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FRANKLIN  WHARTON, 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  U.  S.  MARINE  CORPS. 

COMMANDANT  MARCH  7,    1804.       DIED  SEPTEMBER  1,   1S 


HISTORY 


UNITED  STATES  MARINE  CORPS 


BY 


RICHARD    S.    COLLUM, 


CAPTAIN    t'.S.M.C. 


PH  I  I.  A  DHI.PHIA  : 

L.   R.   HAMHRSLY  &   CO. 

1 8  go. 


Copyright,  1890,  by  L.  R.  HAMKRSLY  &  Co. 


PRINTED  BY  J.    B.   LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY.    PHILADELPHIA, 


TO    THE 

CITIZENS   OF   THE    UNITED   STATES, 

THIS    WORK    IS     RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED;     WITH    A    DESIRE    THAT    THE    SERVICES 

OF  THE 

UNITED   STATES   MARINE   CORPS 

MAY  BE  INTELLIGENTLY   APPRECIATED,  AND  THAT  THE  NATION  MAY  RECOGNIZE 
THE    DEBT    IT   OWES   TO   THE 

OFFICERS    AND    ENLISTED    MEN, 

WHO,  IN    ALL   THE   TRYING   TIMES    IN    OUR    COUNTRY'S    HISTORY 
HAVE   NOBLY    DONE   THEIR   DUTY. 


224363 


PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES, 

BENJAMIN   HARRISON. 

VICE-PRESIDENT, 

LEVI   P.  MORTON. 

SECRETARY    OF    THE    NAVY, 

B.  F.  TRACY. 

ASSISTANT-SECRETARY, 

J.    RUSSEL    SOLEY. 

COMMANDANT    U.   S.  MARINE    CORPS, 

COLONEL-COMMANDANT   C.  G.  McCAWLEY. 

1890. 


"  From  the  establishment  of  the  Marine  Corps  to  the  present 
time,  it  has  constituted  an  integral  part  of  the  Navy,  has  been 
identified  with  it  in  all  its  achievements,  ashore  and  afloat,  and 
has  continued  to  receive  from  its  most  distinguished  com 
manders  the  expression  of  their  appreciation  of  its  effectiveness 
as  a  part  of  the  Navy." — Report  of  House  Committee  on  Navaf 
Affairs ;  3gth  Congress,  2d  Session, 


PREFACE. 


A  CUSTOM  has  prevailed  throughout  the  armies  of  Europe  to 
keep  regular  record  of  the  services  and  achievements  of  their  regi 
ments  and  corps. 

This  principle  has  not  obtained  in  our  own  country,  hence  a 
great  difficulty  arises  in  presenting  an  authentic  account  of  the 
services  of  any  branch  of  our  establishment  either  military  or 
naval. 

This  defect  has  long  been  felt  in  relation  to  the  Corps  of  which 
this  historical  record  is  designed  to  treat. 

An  attempt  was  made  by  the  author  in  1874  to  present  a  true 
and  faithful  record,  but  owing  to  circumstances  beyond  his  control 
the  original  idea  was  changed  during  his  absence  from  the  country. 

It  is  now  thought  that  the  proper  time  has  arrived  for  an  edition 
which  will  present  a  record  of  events  that  will  be  acceptable  to 
the  Corps  and  to  the  nation. 

Impressed  with  this  consideration,  and  influenced  by  a  strong 
attachment  to  the  welfare  and  reputation  of  the  Corps  in  which  he 
has  the  honor  to  serve,  the  author  feels  persuaded  that  an  impartial 
account  of  the  services  of  the  United  States  Marines  will  not  only 
reflect  an  additional  lustre  on  its  distinguished  character,  but  en 
courage  a  spirit  of  emulation,  which  is  the  strongest  impulse  to 
great  and  gallant  actions. 

Although  he  may  have  failed  in  accomplishing  that  object  with 
the  ability  due  its  importance,  he  trusts  that  the  fidelity  and  zeal 
which  has  been  exercised  in  the  present  compilation  will  obtain  for 
him  the  indulgent  consideration  of  those  who  are  aware  of  the 
difficulties  with  which  he  has  had  to  contend. 

He  desires  to  express  his  obligation  to  his  brother  officers  who 

7 


8  v  tl  ^ Preface. 

have  kindly  rendered  him  their  cordial  assistance,  without  which 
this  record  would  have  been  incomplete. 

In  narrating  these  events  the  information  obtained  has  been  com 
piled  from  official  reports,  "  Cooper's  Naval  History,"  "  Hamersly's 
Record  of  Living  Officers,"  and  "  Hamersly's  Naval  Encyclopaedia." 

Although  this  record  must  fail  to  do  the  United  States  Marines 
ample  justice,  the  author  trusts  that  sufficient  has  been  said  to 
prove  that  their  distinguished  repute  is  well  merited,  and  that  they 
have  not,  under  any  circumstances,  tarnished  their  motto — 

"  Semper  Fidelis." 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

PACK 

The  Antiquity  of  Marines — The  Royal  Marines  of  Great  Britain — The  American 
Marines 15 

CHAPTER    I. 

1740-77. — Colonial  Marines — Organization  of  the  Corps — First  Regular  Cruisers 
— Vessels  ordered  to  be  Constructed — Commodore  Hopkins  appointed  Com- 
mander-in-Chief — The  First  Ensign — Descent  on  New  Providence — Alfred, 
Cabot,  and  Glasgow — Lexington  and  Edward — Appointments  in  the  Corps — 
The  Sachem — Doria  and  Racehorse — Uniform — Adoption  of  the  American 
Flag — Fox  and  Hancock <  .  .  23 

CHAPTER    II. 

1777. — Capture  of  Philadelphia — The  First  Attack  by  the  British  Fleet  on  the 
Defences  of  the  Delaware — Success  of  Commodore  Hazelwood  in  repulsing 
the  Enemy — The  Advance  Squadron  of  the  Enemy  succeeds  in  opening  the 
Channel 27 

CHAPTER    III. 

Contemplated  Capture  by  the  Combined  British  Army  and  Navy  of  Forts  Mercer 
and  Mifflin — The  Attempt  made  October  22,  1777 — Attack  on  that  Day  on 
Fort  Mercer  repulsed  with  Heavy  Loss  to  the  Assailants — The  Navy  rendering 
Great  Aid — No  Serious  Attack  on  Fort  Mifflin — Two  British  Vessels  run 
aground,  and  on  the  23d  are  set  on  Fire — Their  Magazines  explode 29 

CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Second  Attack  on  Fort  Mifflin — Success  of  the  British — A  Portion  of  the 
State  Fleet  saved — The  Continental  Fleet  burnt  by  its  Commander — The 
Treason  of  Captain  Robert  Whyte — Marines  attached  to  the  Pennsylvania  Navy  31 

CHAPTER    V. 

1777-80. — Second  Descent  on  New  Providence — Ranger  and  the  Drake — 
Capture  of  a  British  Privateer — Capture  of  the  British  Sloop  Jason,  Schooner 
Hibernia,  and  Five  Transports — The  Expedition  to  Castine — The  Squadron 
under  Commodore  Paul  Jones — Trumbull  and  Watt — Alliance — Congress  and 
Savage — The  Hyder  Ally 35 

CHAPTER    VI. 

1798-1800. — Commencement  of  the  New  Navy — The  Organization  of  the  Corps 
— Marine  Camp  near  Philadelphia — The  Quasi  French  War — Death  of  Wash 
ington 42 

9 


io  Contents. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

PAGE 

1801-1805. — War  with  Tripoli — The  Squadron  under  Commodore  Dale — Capture 
of  the  Tripoli  by  the  Enterprise — Commodore  Preble  assigned  to  the  Com 
mand  of  the  Squadron  before  Tripoli — Loss  of  the  Philadelphia — Destruction 
of  the  Philadelphia  by  Decatur — Actions  before  Tripoli — The  Expedition  to 
Derne — Assault  and  Capture  of  the  City 46 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

1809-13. — Increase  of  the  Corps — The  War  of  1812 — President  and  Belvidere — 
The  Constitution  and  Guerriere — United  States  and  Macedonian — Wasp  and 
Frolic — Constitution  and  Java — Hornet  and  Peacock — The  Essex — Lieutenant 
Gamble — Attack  on  the  Batteries  of  Craney  Island — Actions  on  the  Lakes  .  .  50 

CHAPTER    IX. 

1814-15. — The  War  of  1812  Continued — The  Chesapeake  Flotilla  under  Captain 
Barney — The  Loss  of  the  Adams  in  the  Penobscot — The  Advance  upon  Wash 
ington — The  Battle  of  Bladensburg — Capture  of  the  City  of  Washington — Un 
successful  attack  by  the  British  on  Baltimore — Battle  of  New  Orleans — Capture 
of  the  Cyane  and  Levant  by  the  Constitution — The  President  and  Endymion — 
Hornet  and  Penguin 55 

CHAPTER    X. 
1824. — The  Mutiny  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Prison 61 

CHAPTER    XL 
1824-35. — Operations  against  Pirates — Quallah  Batoo — Services  in  New  York  .    .      64 

CHAPTER    XII. 

1836-42. — Potomac  at  Port  Mahon — The  Services  of  the  Corps  during  the  Cam 
paigns  against  the  Indians  in  Florida — The  United  States  Exploring  Expedition 
— The  mutiny  on  board  the  brig  Somers 67 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
1846-48. — War  with  Mexico,  I. — Operations  on  the  Pacific  Coast 81 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
1846-48. — War  with  Mexico,  II. — Naval  Operations  on  the  East  Coast  of  Mexico      88 

CHAPTER    XV. 

1847-48. — War  with  Mexico,  III. — Operations  of  the  Marines  attached  to  the 
Army  under  General  Scott , 94 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

1852-55. — The  Expedition  to  Japan — Combined  attack  of  English  and  Ameri 
cans  on  the  Chinese — Monument  in  Happy  Valley,  Hong- Kong 98 


Contents.  \  \ 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

1855-60. — Insurrection  at  Montevideo — Engagement  with  Savages  in  Washington 
Territory — The  Barrier  Forts  in  China — The  Riot  in  Washington — Savages  at 
Waya — Montevideo — Expedition  to  Paraguay — Services  on  Staten  Island — John 
Brown  Insurrection — Services  at  Kisembo — Panama 101 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 
1861.— The  Civil  War 109 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

1861. — The  Civil  War,  I. — Resignations — Star  of  the  West — Fort  Pickens — 
Destruction  of  the  Gosport  Navy- Yard — Potomac  Flotilla — The  First  Battle  of 
Bull  Run — Reorganization  of  the  Corps — Hatteras  Inlet in 

CHAPTER    XX. 

1861.— The  Civil  War,  II.— The  Capture  of  the  Confederate  Privateer  Judah  off 
Pensacola — Destruction  of  the  Royal  Yacht — Battle  of  Port  Royal — Loss  of  the 
Governor — The  Trent  Affair — Occupation  of  Wassaw  Island n8 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

1862. — The  Civil  War,  III. — Cedar  Keys — Appalachicola  — Joint  Expedition  for 
Operations  in  the  Waters  of  North  Carolina — Cumberland  Sound — Fort  Clinch 
— Fernandina 126 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

1862. — The  Civil  War,  IV. — Destruction  of  the  Cumberland  and  Congress — Merri- 
mac  and  Monitor — Capture  of  Norfolk — Action  at  Drury's  Bluff — Pass  Christian 
— Expedition  up  Santee  River — Morris  Island 130 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

1862. — The  Civil  War,  V. — The  Capture  of  New  Orleans — Passing  the  Batteries 
at  Vicksburg — The  Ariel  captured  by  the  Alabama 137 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

1863. — The  Civil  War,  VI. — Raid  of  Rebel  Ironclads  among  the  Vessels  off 
Charleston,  South  Carolina — Attack  on  Port  Hudson — The  Draft  Riots  in  New 
York  City — Morris  Island — Assault  on  Fort  Sumter — Potomac  Flotilla — East 
Gulf  Squadron 144 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

1864. — The  Civil  War,  VII. — Condition  of  the  Corps — Sounds  of  North  Caro 
lina — The  Ram  Albemarle — Murrill's  Inlet — The  Defeat  of  the  Alabama — 
Engagement  at  Simonosaki — Havre  de  Grace — Admiral  Farragut's  Attack  on 
the  Defences  of  Mobile  Bay — Safety  of  the  Wabash  due  to  the  Action  of  the 
Marines 15  * 


1 2  Contents. 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

PAGE 

1864.— The  Civil  War,  VIII.— The  Expedition  under  Admiral  Porter  up  Red 
River — The  First  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher 160 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

1864-65. — The  Civil  War,  IX. — Services  in  the  Pacific  Squadron — Marines  at 
Boyd's  Neck  and  Tulifinney  Cross-Roads — Second  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher — Its 
Capture  by  Porter  and  Terry — Occupation  of  Georgetown — Report  of  Admiral 
Dahlgren 167 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
1865. — Assassination  of  the  President — The  Arrest  of  Semmes 178 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

1866-71. — The  Great  Fire  in  Portland,  Maine — Grade  of  Brigadier-General 
created — Services  in  Aid  of  the  Civil  Power — Fight  at  Formosa — Capture  of 
Filibusters — Aiding  the  Civil  Authorities — Capture  of  the  Forward — Darien 
Expedition — Valuable  Services  in  aiding  the  Revenue  Officers 183 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

1871. — The  Corean  Expedition — A  Surveying  Party  fired  upon  by  the  Corean 
Forts — Punishment  inflicted  on  the  Coreans — The  Marines  in  Advance — The 
Final  Triumph — Report  of  Captain  Tilton 190 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

1872-74. — Services  in  Boston — Panama — The  Delaide — Review  at  Key  West — 
The  Grade  of  Brigadier-General  abolished 198 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 
1877. — The  Labor  Riots,  I. — Services  of  the  First  Battalion 203 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

1877. — The  Labor  Riots,  II. — Services  of  the  Second  Battalion — Separate-  De 
tachments  211 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 
1878-82. — Universal  Exposition — Marines  at  Alexandria 218 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 
1885. — The  Expedition  to  Panama 220 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 
1889. — Disaster  at  Apia,  Samoa 238 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 
1889. — The  Paris  Exposition 260 

Conclusion 267 


Contents.  1 3 

APPENDIX. 


PART    I. 

PAGE 

Complete  List  of  Officers  of  the  Corps,  from  1798  to  the  Present  Time 269 

PART    II. 

Thanks,  Medals,  and  Swords  awarded  to  the  Corps 285 

PART    III. 

Acts  of  1780,  1794,  1797 »    •    •    292 

1815,  Letter  from  Captain  Bacon — 1818,  Duel  between  Commodore  Perry  and 
Captain  Heath— 1839,  Joint  Letter  from  Officers  of  the  Navy  Commanding 
Vessels  attached  to  the  Florida  Squadron — 1874-90,  Views  of  the  Admiral  of 
the  Navy  in  Regard  to  the  Marine  Corps — 1890,  Table  of  Strength,  from 
November  10,  1775,  to  January  I,  1891,  with  a  Complete  Resume  of  the  Duties 
of  Marines 293 

PART    IV. 
List  of  Officers  brevetted  for  Services  during  the  Civil  War 306 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Antiquity   of   Marines — The    Royal    Marines   of  Great   Britain — The   American 

Marines.* 

THE  employment  of  infantry  as  part  of  the  regular  complement  of 
vessels  of  war  was  common  to  the  Phoenicians  and  to  all  the  maritime 
states  of  Greece  at  least  five  centuries  before  the  commencement  of  the 
Christian  era.  In  the  earlier  period  of  history  it  was  not  so.  When 
vessels  were  no  larger  than  pentekonters, — open  boats  pulling  fifty  oars, 
— perhaps  up  to  the  time  of  biremes,  the  warriors  were  the  oarsmen. 
But  as  naval  science  progressed,  and  the  size  of  vessels  increased,  there 
gradually  sprang  up  distinct  classes,  which  together  made  up  \.\\Q  personnel 
of  the  navies  about  500  B.C., — the  rowers,  the  seamen  proper,  who  had 
the  general  management  of  the  vessel  and  sails,  and  Marines,  or  fighting 
men.  Marines  are  especially  mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  battle  of 
Lade,  in  the  time  of  Darius,  king  of  Persia,  about  497  B.C.  The  Ionian 
Greeks,  being  in  a  state  of  revolt,  had  their  fleet  drawn  up  at  Lad£,  a 
small  island  lying  off  Miletus,  where  it  was  discovered  by  the  Persians. 
In  the  battle  which  ensued,  the  Samian  and  Lesbian  squadrons  deserted 
the  cause,  the  people  of  those  isles  having  been  won  over  by  Persian 
emissaries,  and  were  followed  by  others.  "  Of  those  who  remained  and 
fought,"  says  Herodotus,  "  none  were  so  rudely  handled  as  the  Chians. 
They  had  furnished  to  the  common  fleet  over  one  hundred  ships,  having 
each  of  them  forty  armed  citizens  on  board,  and  those  picked  men. 
Scorning  to  follow  the  base  examples  of  the  traitors,  they  fought  desper 
ately,  till,  overcome  by  numbers,  they  were  obliged  to  seek  safety  in 
flight."  The  same  author,  in  estimating  the  strength  of  the  Persian 
naval  force  which  accompanied  the  army  of  Xerxes  to  Greece,  observes 
that  each  vessel  had  on  board,  besides  native  soldiers,  thirty  fighting  men, 
who  were  either  Persians,  Medes,  or  Sacans. 

At  the  dawning  of  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Salamis,  the  men-at-arms 
of  the  Greek  fleet  were  assembled  on  shore,  and  speeches  were  made  to 
them.  "The  best  of  all  was  that  of  Themistocles,  who,  throughout, 
contrasted  what  was  noble  with  what  was  base,  and  bade  them  in  all  that 

*  This  chapter  was  kindly  furnished  the  author,  in  1874,  by  Captain,  now  Rear-Ad 
miral,  S.  B.  Luce,  U.S.N. 

15 


1 6  Introduction. 

came  within  the  range  of  man's  nature  always  to  make  choice  of  the 
nobler  part."  These  men-at-arms,  or  soldiers,  which  formed  part  of  the 
complement  of  the  Greek  trireme,  were  called  Epibatce,  a  word  all  author 
ities  agree  in  rendering  into  English  by  the  word  Marines.  The  largest 
number  of  Marines  found  aboard  each  of  the  "swift  ships" — that  is,  the 
regular  men-of-war,  as  distinguished  from  transports — at  this  period  was 
forty.  Plutarch  gives  the  number  on  board  each  Greek  trireme  at  the 
battle  of  Salamis  as  eighteen,  four  of  whom  were  archers  and  the  rest 
heavy-armed.  During  the  Peloponnesian  War,  the  average  number  on 
board  the  Athenian  trireme  was  ten.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  give 
here  one  of  the  many  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Salamis,  as  an  illustra 
tion  of  the  valor  and  mode  of  fighting  of  the  Epibatce :  "A  Samothracian 
vessel  bore  down  on  an  Athenian  and  sunk  it,  but  was  attacked  and 
crippled  immediately  after  by  one  of  the  Eginetan  squadron.  Now,  the 
Samothracians  were  expert  with  the  javelin,  and  aimed  their  weapons  so 
well  that  they  cleared  the  deck  of  the  vessel  which  had  disabled  their  own, 
after  which  they  sprang  on  board  and  took  it."  (Herodotus  viii.  90.) 

In  the  account  of  the  battle  of  Platea,  where  Mardonius,  the  great 
military  leader  of  the  Persians,  was  slain,  and  the  choice  of  the  Persian 
troops  routed,  there  is  an  instance  related  where  the  military  and  naval 
training  are  curiously  blended  in  the  person  of  the  Athenian  Sophanes. 
"He  wore,"  says  Herodotus,  "an  iron  anchor,  fastened  to  the  belt 
which  secured  his  breastplate  by  a  brazen  chain  ;  and  this,  when  he  came 
near  the  enemy,  he  threw  out,  to  the  intent  that  when  they  made  their 
charge  it  might  be  impossible  for  him  to  be  driven  from  his  post.  As 
soon,  however,  as  the  enemy  fled,  his  wont  was  to  take  up  his  anchor 
and  join  the  pursuit."  Another  account  states  that  the  anchor  was 
simply  a  device  upon  his  shield.  But  in  either  event  the  anchor  would 
indicate  that  he  had  served  afloat.  Thucydides  makes  frequent  mention 
of  Epibatce.  When  the  Athenian  strategus  Demosthenes  was  operating 
near  Leucas  with  thirty  ships,  he  landed  his  forces,  and  had,  besides  the 
army,  "the  three  hundred  Epibatce.  from  his  own  ships,"  making  ten 
for  each  trireme.  Rawlinson,  in  translating  the  word  Epibatce,  explains 
that  it  means  "  the  armed  portion  of  the  crew,  corresponding  to  our 
(English)  Marines."  So  also  Dr.  Dale,  in  his  translation  of  "Thu 
cydides,"  renders  the  word  Epibatce.  as  "the  heavy-armed  soldiers  who 
served  on  board  ship,  answering  to  our  Marines."  The  eminent  Greek 
scholar,  Dr.  Arnold,  takes  the  same  view.  The  learned  historian  of 
Greece,  Mr.  Grote,  speaks  of  Epibatce  as  Marines,  and  observes  that 
"though  not  forming  a  corps  permanently  distinct,  they  correspond  in 
function  to  the  English  Marines."  In  the  statement  that  they  did  not 
form  a  distinct  corps,  Mr.  Grote  seems  to  differ  from  other  authorities. 

Boeckh,  probably  one  of  the  very  best  authorities  on  the  antiquities 
of  Athens,  who  is  so  freely  quoted  by  Mr.  Grote  in  his  history  of  Greece 


Introduction.  1 7 

and  referred  to  by  Dr.  William  Smith  and  Rich  in  their  dictionaries  of 
Roman  and  Greek  antiquities,  in  speaking  of  matters  concerning  the 
Athenian  navy,  remarks  that  "  The  crews  of  the  swift  triremes  consisted 
of  two  descriptions  of  men, — of  the  soldiers  or  Marines  appointed  to 
to  defend  the  vessels,  who  were  also  called  Epibatce,  and  of  the  sailors. 
These  Epibat<z  were  entirely  distinct  from  the  land  soldiers,  such  as  the 
hoptitfz, peltastce,  and  cavalry,  and  belonged  to  the  vessel."  ("Boeckh's 
Economy  of  Athens,"  vol.  i.,  page  373.)  They  had,  moreover,  their 
own  officers,  called  trierarchoi. 

During  the  naval  supremacy  of  Rome,  the  quinquireme  only,  as  a 
rule,  was  admitted  into  the  line  of  battle.  Polybius  gives  the  number 
of  rowers  in  these  vessels  as  three  hundred,  and  that  of  the  Marines 
(clasiarii  milites]  as  one  hundred  and  twenty.  In  regard  to  the  manner 
of  fighting,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  Epibata  used  arrows  and  darts 
at  a  distance,  spears  and  swords  in  close  combat,  and  as  ships  increased 
in  size  they  added  balistcz,  and  turres,  or  turrets  (naves  turritce),  and 
fought  from  them  as  from  castles  on  land. 

In  the  earlier  period  of  naval  history,  when  opposing  fleets,  drawn  up 
in  parallel  lines,  closed  at  once  and  decided  the  issue  of  the  battle  by  a 
hand-to-hand  contest,  the  number  of  Marines  aboard  each  vessel  was  as 
large  as  could  be  accommodated.  But  when,  in  the  process  of  time, 
military  science  became  better  understood,  and  its  principles  came  to  be 
applied  to  the  management  of  fleets,  naval  tactics  grew  to  be  an  art  in 
which  the  Athenians  rendered  themselves  pre-eminently  successful.  Skil 
ful  manoeuvres  and  evolutions  performed  with  wonderful  celerity  and 
precision  took  the  place  of  the  old  style  of  rushing  headlong  into  battle. 
To  maim  and  disable  an  enemy  without  receiving  any  injury  in 
return  was  now  the  evidence  of  an  expert  trierarch  and  a  well -drilled 
crew ;  this  feat  once  accomplished,  and  the  enemy's  vessel  reduced  to  a 
helpless  wreck  upon  the  water,  the  survivors  were  easily  despatched  by 
the  Marines.  Hence,  with  the  improved  tactics  came  a  reduction  of  the 
number  of  Marines  allowed  to  a  Greek  trireme,  the  precise  number 
being  finally  settled  at  ten,  as  already  stated,  the  entire  complement  of 
the  trireme  being  two  hundred. 

The  true  functions  of  the  Marine  of  modern  times  were  little  under 
stood,  his  great  value  to  the  navy  to  which  he  belonged  little  appreciated, 
till  within  a  recent  period.  According  to  their  own  writers,  the  Corps  of 
Marines  of  Great  Britain  was  originally  instituted  in  1664;  and,  curi 
ously  enough,  partly  with  a  view  to  forming  a  nursery  of  seamen  for  the 
fleet.  The  privates  were  encouraged  to  qualify  as  able  seamen,  and  were 
allowed  every  opportunity  of  doing  so.* 


*"  Royal  Marines,"  by  T.  Smith,  R.M.     Colburn's   United  Service  Magazine  for 
May,  and  following  numbers,  1874. 


1 8  Introduction. 

"  It  having  been  found  necessary  on  many  occasions  to  embark  a 
number  of  soldiers  on  board  our  ships  of  war,  ...  it  was  judged  expe 
dient  to  appoint  certain  regiments  for  that  service  who  were  trained  to 
the  different  modes  of  sea-fighting,  and  also  made  useful  in  some  of  those 
manoeuvres  of  a  ship  where  a  great  many  hands  were  required.  These, 
from  the  nature  of  their  duty,  were  distinguished  as  marine  soldiers,  or 
Marines.'1  ("  Grose's  Military  Antiquities  of  the  English  Army,"  vol.  i.) 
They  were  expected  to  be  more  or  less  familiar  with  the  duties  of  sea 
men,  and  it  is  still  more  curious  to  observe  that  this  total  misapprehen 
sion  as  to  the  nature  of  the  duties  of  Marines  was  transmitted  to  the 
colonies  in  America,  and  found  definite  expression  in  the  first  act  of  the 
Continental  Congress  establishing  a  Marine  Corps. 

In  1740  three  additional  regiments  were  raised  in  America  and  as 
sembled  at  New  York.  All  the  officers,  excepting  the  captains  of  com 
panies,  who  were  colonists  nominated  by  the  provinces,  were  appointed 
by  the  crown,  and  Colonel  Spottswood,  of  Virginia,  was  colonel-com 
mandant  of  the  whole.* 

In  1760  the  strength  of  the  Corps  being  increased  to  eighteen  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty-five  men,  application  was  made  for  an  increase  of 
the  number  of  field-officers,  etc. 

Nicolas,  in  his  history  of  the  Royal  Marine  forces,  gives  very  full 
accounts  of  all  the  battles  in  which  that  Corps  participated,  but  although 
the  British  Marine  had  in  many  a  hard-fought  action  acquitted  himself 
with  credit,  yet  on  no  occasion  had  he  proved  himself  of  more  value  to 
the  navy  to  which  he  belonged,  or  reflected  more  honor  on  his  Corps, 
than  during  the  momentous  period  covering  the  great  mutinies  at 
Spithead,  the  Nore,  and  Bantry  Bay.  The  seamen  of  the  fleet  fully 
understanding  the  advantage, ^in  the  stand  they  had  taken  against  the 
government,  of  engaging  the  Marines  as  their  allies,  took  care  to  include 
them  in  their  demand  for  redress  of  abuses.  In  their  answer  to  the  Lords 
of  the  Admiralty,  dated  on  board  the  Queen  Charlotte  at  Spithead, 
April  19,  1797,  they  say,  "And  as  a  further  proof  of  our  moderation, 
and  that  we  are  actuated  by  a  true  spirit  of  benevolence  towards  our 
brethren,  the  Marines,  who  are  not  noticed  in  your  lordships'  answer," 

*  The  history  of  the  Royal  Marines  is  not  without  its  page  of  romance.  One  Han 
nah  Snell,  of  Worcester,  England,  it  appears,  fought  in  the  ranks  as  a  Marine.  She 
belonged  to  the  guard  of  the  Swallow,  one  of  the  squadron  under  Admiral  Bosca- 
wen,  was  distinguished  for  bravery,  wounded  twelve  times  in  various  actions,  and  was 
finally  discharged  without  her  sex  being  discovered.  This  brings  to  mind  the  story  of 
the  lady  whose  devotion  to  the  fortunes  of  one  William  Taylor  induced  her  to  follow 
that  hero  to  sea.  She  assumed  the  name  of  Richard  Carr,  behaved  with  great  gallantry, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  secret  of  her  sex  being  revealed,  she  was  actually  promoted  to 
be  first  lieutenant  of  the  "  Thunder"  bomb.  (See  "  Universal  Songster,"  London, 
1827,  vol.  i.,  page  65.) 


Introduction.  19 

etc.  But  neither  had  they,  in  their  first  statement  of  grievances,  be 
ginning,  "We,  the  seamen  of  His  Majesty's  Navy,"  alluded,  even 
remotely,  to  the  Marines,  showing  that  the  alliance  was  an  after-thought. 
The  Marines  were  mentioned,  however,  in  the  petition  to  Parliament. 
But  although  their  "brethren  the  Marines"  doubtless  had  their  own 
grievances,  yet  they,  as  a  rule,  remained  true  to  their  duty,  and  by  their 
steadfast  courage  and  good  discipline  suppressed  more  than  one  mutiny. 
One  remarkable  instance  among  many  of  a  similar  character  is  related 
of  the  crew  of  the  Impetueux,  Captain  Sir  Edward  Pellew,  afterwards 
Lord  Exmouth.  The  mutineers  had  in  vain  attempted  to  win  over  the 
Marines,  and  Sir  Edward,  finding  he  had  them  on  his  side,  at  once  took 
such  energetic  measures  that  the  mutiny  was  put  down.  The  Marine 
guard  of  the  Castor  frigate  summarily  suppressed  a  mutiny  on  board 
that  ship  December,  1801.  In  the  same  year  the  mutiny  in  the  squadron 
in  Bantry  Bay  broke  out ;  this  also  was  put  down  by  the  aid  of  the 
Marines.  On  each  occasion  the  good  conduct  of  the  Marines  was  recog 
nized  in  the  official  report  of  the  affair,  and  it  was  probably  due  to  the 
reputation  for  loyalty  then  acquired  under  the  most  trying  circumstances, 
rather  than  their  conduct  in  battle,  that  gave  rise  to  the  complimentary 
order  of  the  Admiralty,  of  April  29,  1802,  conveying  His  Majesty's  di 
rections  "  that  the  Corps  shall  be  styled  Royal  Marines."  The  last  serious 
mutiny  necessary  in  this  connection  to  notice  occurred  on  board  the 
Excellent,  74,  in  the  West  Indies. 

Lord  Hood,  in  general  orders,  dated  "Blenheim,  Barbadoes,  Decem 
ber  30,  1802,"  says,  "The  commander-in-chief  (as  well  as  the  members 
of  the  court-martial)  is  highly  sensible  of  the  active  exertions  of  the 
officers  of  H.  M.  ship  Excellent,  in  quelling  the  late  mutiny  on  board 
that  ship ;  and  also  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and  private 
Marines  belonging  to  the  said  ship :  who,  by  their  firmness  in  resisting 
the  attempt  to  seduce  them  from  their  duty,  and  in  opposing  men  in 
actual  mutiny,  have  increased,  if  possible,  the  high  character  the  Corps 
has  so  justly  acquired,"  etc.,  etc.  It  is  evident  that  the  worth  of  the 
British  Marine  had  begun  to  be  acknowledged,  and  yet  it  was  not  till 
1837  that  the  "iniquitous  system"*  of  rewarding  distinguished  naval 
officers  by  appointing  them  to  the  sinecures  of  generals  and  colonels  of 
marines  was  abolished. 

The  value  of  the  Royal  Marine  as  exhibited  in  his  loyalty  during  a 
series  of  mutinies  of  ships'  companies,  extending  over  a  period  of  five 
years, — or  from  1797  to  1802, — some  of  which  shook  the  throne  of 
Great  Britain  to  its  very  foundation,  was  found  to  be  in  the  total  ab 
sence  of  sympathy  between  him  and  the  seaman ;  an  inimical  feeling, 
perhaps,  which  the  appointment  of  naval  officers,  of  whatever  class,  to 

t  *  Nicolas. 

> 


2O  Introduction. 

positions  in  the  Corps  had  a  decided  tendency  to  break  down.  Hence 
it  may  be  assumed  as  a  general  proposition,  subject  to  little  qualification, 
that  the  value  of  a  Marine  Corps  to  a  navy,  or  of  a  Marine  guard  to  a 
ship,  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the  thoroughness  of  its  military  training, 
its  esprit  de  corps,  and  the  strict  observance  of  that  line  of  demarcation 
which  separates  the  military  from  the  naval  element. 

Happily  for  us,  our  seamen  have  never  been  driven  into  mutiny,  nor 
does  it  seem  possible  that  such  a  deplorable  condition  of  affairs  could 
be  brought  about  as  would  cause  an  absolute  antagonism  between  them 
and  the  Marines.  Still,  as  the  legally  established  "  sharp-shooters"  and 
necessary  military  element  of  our  sea-forces,  our  Marine  Corps  should 
jealously  guard  its  integrity  as  a  military  body  "  par  excellence." 

In  1804  an  artillery  company  was  attached  to  each  of  the  three 
divisions  of  the  Royal  Marine  Corps,  to  supply  the  service  of  the  bomb- 
vessels,  and  in  time  of  peace  to  drill  the  whole  of  the  Marines  in  gun 
nery.  But  they  were  soon  available  for  other  purposes,  and  on  the  out 
break  of  the  War  of  1812,  a  large  body  of  the  Marine  Artillery,  with  a 
field  battery  and  rocket  equipment,  accompanied  the  battalions  of 
Marines  then  formed  for  service  in  America.  Later,  Sir  Howard  Doug 
lass  complimented  the  Marine  Artillery  as  being  "  either  a  corps  of  good 
infantry,  of  scientific  bombardiers,  or  expert  field  artillerymen,  well 
constituted,  thoroughly  instructed,  and  ably  commanded."  After 
fluctuating  in  numbers  through  several  years,  the  Corps  was  so  augmented 
that  in  1859  it  numbered  three  thousand  officers  and  men,  and  was 
formed  into  a  separate  division,  with  its  head-quarters  at  Fort  Cumber 
land. 

The  military  education  of  the  officers  of  the  Royal  Marine  Artillery  is 
thorough,  and  such  as  could  be  heartily  wished  were  introduced  some 
what  into  our  own  Marine  Corps.  The  cadet  Marines  have  to  study  for 
two  years,  more  or  less,  during  which  they  are  expected  to  acquire  a 
competent  knowledge  of  arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry,  plane  trigonom 
etry,  the  use  of  the  sextant,  fortification,  English  history,  and  French. 
To  this  may  be  added  a  practical  course  in  naval  gunnery.  If,  on  obtain 
ing  his  commission,  the  young  marine  officer  is  selected  to  qualify  for  the 
artillery,  he  must  be  prepared  at  the  end  of  a  year  to  pass  an  examination 
in  analytical  trigonometry,  differential  and  integral  calculus,  conic  sec 
tions,  statics  and  dynamics,  hydrostatics  and  steam,  besides  being  required 
to  have  an  increased  knowledge  of  fortification.  The  men  are  volunteers 
from  the  light  infantry  divisions,  possessing  specified  qualifications  as  to 
age,  height,  intelligence,  and  character. 

The  course  of  training,  which  is,  with  a  few  exceptions,  common  to 
both  officers  and  men,  is  very  comprehensive:  it  includes  the  usual  in 
fantry  drills  and  musketry  instruction ;  the  exercise  of  field  guns  and 
rockets,  with  such  field-battery  movements  as  are  of  real  practical  im- 


Introduction.  2 1 

portance ;  the  service  of  heavy  ordnance,  including  heavy  guns,  howit 
zers,  and  sea  and  land  service  mortars ;  the  naval  great  gun  exercise ; 
mounting  and  dismounting  ordnance,  with  and  without  machines ;  the 
various  methods  of  slinging  and  transporting  ordnance ;  knotting  and 
splicing  and  fitting  gun  gear ;  use  of  pulleys,  etc.  ;  a  laboratory  course, 
including  use  and  preparation  of  tubes,  rockets,  and  fuses,  making  up 
cartridges,  manufacture  of  port  fires,  signal  lights,  rockets,  and  explosive 
compounds ;  a  course  of  practical  gunnery,  comprising  instruction  in  the 
nature  and  uses  of  the  various  kind  of  guns,  howitzers,  and  mortars,  of 
projectiles,  sighting  ordnance,  use  of  red-hot  shot,  and  such  matters  con 
nected  with  the  theory  of  projectiles  as  may  have  a  practical  application.* 
The  United  States  Marine  Corps  has  well  sustained  the  high  reputation 
for  steadfast  courage  and  loyalty  which  has  been  handed  down  to  it  from 
the  days  of  Themistocles.  But  like  their  modern  prototypes  of  Great 
Britain,  they  have  felt  the  want  of  proper  appreciation.  In  the  resolution 
of  Congress  of  November  10,  1775,  to  raise  two  battalions  to  be  called 
"first  and  second  battalions  of  American  Marines,"  it  was  enjoined  that 
"no  person  be  enlisted  into  said  battalion  but  such  as  are  good  seamen, 
or  so  acquainted  with  maritime  affairs  as  to  be  able  to  serve  with  advan 
tage  by  sea:"  clearly  showing  that  our  legislators  of  that  day,  at  least, 
had  little  conception  of  the  nature  of  a  properly-organized  Marine  Corps. 
Unfortunately,  the  erroneous  ideas  expressed  in  that  act  seem  more  or 
less  to  have  been  transmitted  to  the  present  time ;  for,  strange  as  it 
may  appear,  the  Corps,  while  it  has  its  own  peculiar  organization,  is  yet 
without  any  regimental  organization.  It  would  seem  to  be  to  the  interest 
of  our  Marine  Corps  that  it  should  be  brigaded, — the  full  number  allowed 
by  law  being  three  thousand  and  seventy-four,  f  though  practically  re 
duced  by  the  amount  of  the  annual  appropriation, — and  companies,  or 
parts  of  companies,  with  their  proper  officers  detailed  for  duty  afloat. 
This  course,  in  connection  with  the  educating  of  the  young  Marine 
officers  at  West  Point,  would  soon  bring  our  Marine  Corps  up  to  that 
high  military  standard  which  it  is  quite  safe  to  say  all  naval  as  well  as  all 
Marine  officers  desire  to  see  it  attain.  J 

*  "  Military  Schools  and  Course  of  Instruction  in  the  Science  and  Art  of  War." 
Henry  Barnard,  LL.D.  New  York,  1872. 

f  Act  of  July  25,  1861. 

J  The  officers  of  the  Corps,  since  1881,  are  appointed  from  the  graduates  of  the  Naval 
Academy,  a  course  advocated  by  the  progressive  members  of  the  Corps,  many  years  be 
fore  the  passage  of  the  law. — AUTHOR. 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES  MARINE  CORPS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1740-1777. — Colonial  Marines — Organization  of  the  Corps — First  Regular  Cruisers — 
Vessels  ordered  to  be  Constructed — Commodore  Hopkins  appointed  Commander-in- 
Chief — The  First  Ensign — Descent  on  New  Providence — Alfred,  Cabot,  and  Glasgow 
— Lexington  and  Edward — Appointments  in  the  Corps — The  Sachem — Doria  and 
Racehorse — Uniform — Adoption  of  the  American  Flag — Fox  and  Hancock. 

1740. — The  first  authentic  record  of  Marines  in  America  bears  the  date 
of  1740.  Early  in  that  year  three  additional  regiments  were  raised,  when 
the  royal  standard  was  displayed  at  New  York  as  the  port  to  which  any 
volunteer  Marine  was  to  repair.  It  was  supposed  that  the  native  Ameri 
cans  were  better  calculated  for  the  service  in  this  climate  than  the  Euro 
peans,  and  they  were  clothed  in  a  manner  which  was  considered  well 
adapted  for  their  duties.  The  colonels,  lieutenant-colonels,  and  other 
commissioned  officers  were  appointed  by  the  crown,  except  the  captains  of 
the  companies,  who  were  nominated  by  the  American  provinces.  Their 
uniform  was  camlet  coats,  brown  linen  waistcoats,  and  canvas  trousers. 
Colonel  Spotiswood,  of  Virginia,  was  colonel  commandant  of  the  whole. 

1775. — On  the  8th  of  June  the  Continental  Congress  resolved  "that 
the  compact  between  the  crown  and  the  people  of  Massachusetts  Bay  is 
dissolved,"  and  on  the  loth  of  November,  before  a  single  vessel  of  the  Navy 
was  sent  to  sea,  the  Corps  was  organized  by  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  two  battalions  of  Marines  be  raised  consisting  of  one  colonel,  two 
lieutenant-colonels,  two  majors,  and  other  officers,  as  usual  in  other  regiments;  that 
they  consist  of  an  equal  number  of  privates  with  other  battalions ;  that  particular  care 
be  taken  that  no  persons  be  appointed  to  offices,  or  enlisted  into  said  battalions,  but 
such  as  are  good  seamen,  or  so  acquainted  with  maritime  affairs  as  to  be  able  to  serve 
to  advantage  by  sea  when  required ;  that  they  be  enlisted  and  commissioned  to  serve 
for  and  during  the  present  war  with  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies,  unless  dismissed 
by  order  of  Congress ;  that  they  be  distinguished  by  the  names  of  the  First  and  Second 
Battalions  of  American  Marines. 

Later  in  the  same  month,  another  resolution  was  adopted  providing 
against  filling  the  Corps  from  the  army. 

23 


24  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

But  slight  record  can  be  found  of  the  services  of  the  Marines  during 
the  first  year  of  the  existence  of  the  Corps.  Men  were  not  over-plenty, 
either  for  military  or  naval  duty,  and  several  months  elapsed  before  the 
Corps  was  fully  organized,  equipped,  and  ready  for  duty.  From  the 
hour  of  their  earliest  organization,  however,  the  Marines  made  a  noble 
record  for  themselves  and  for  their  country.  In  the  early  naval  fights  they 
played  a  most  important  part,  amply  proving  their  devotion  to  the  cause 
in  which  they  were  enlisted,  and  furnishing  conclusive  evidence  of  the 
wisdom  of  the  legislation  which  called  their  Corps  into  existence. 

The  first  regular  cruisers  that  ever  got  to  sea  were  the  sloop  Hornet 
and  schooner  Wasp,  which  sailed  in  November  from  Baltimore  to  join  the 
squadron  under  Commodore  Hopkins  in  the  Delaware. 

This  passage,  however,  cannot  be  called  a  cruise.  Cooper  says  that 
the  honor  properly  belongs  to  Captain  John  Barry,  of  Philadelphia,  who 
commanded  the  Lexington,  a  brig  of  fourteen  guns,  which  must  have 
left  the  capes  of  the  Delaware  late  in  January  or  early  in  February,  1776, 
and  her  orders  were  to  cruise  to  the  southward. 

On  the  1 3th  of  December  Congress  directed  thirteen  ships  of  war  to 
be  built.  On  the  226.  of  the  same  month  Congress  passed  a  resolution 
declaring  Esek  Hopkins  commander-in-chief,  and  appointed  officers  for 
all  the  vessels  then  in  service. 

The  equipment  of  all  vessels  that  could  be  procured  was  going  on  in 
the  autumn  of  1775,  and  the  first  ensign  ever  shown  by  a  regular  man-of- 
war  was  hoisted  in  the  Delaware  on  board  the  Alfred,  by  Paul  Jones,  some 
time  about  the  last  of  December.  What  that  ensign  was  is  not  positively 
known,  but  it  is  thought  to  have  been  a  device  representing  a  pine-tree, 
with  a  rattlesnake,  about  to  strike,  coiled  at  its  root,  and  bearing  the  motto, 
"  Don't  tread  on  me."  It  is  certain  that  such  a  flag  was  used  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  Revolution,  and  on  board  of  some  of  the  vessels  of  war, 
though  whether  this  was  the  flag  borne  by  the  Alfred  is  not  quite  so  clear. 
Most  of  the  privateers  of  the  period  either  wore  the  arms  of  the  colony 
from  which  they  sailed,  and  by  which  they  were  authorized  to  cruise,  or 
they  also  showed  devices  of  their  own,  according  to  the  conceits  of  the 
different  captains  and  owners. 

1776. — Commodore  Hopkins  was  directed  to  proceed  to  the  southward, 
with  a  view  to  act  against  the  naval  force,  which  was  then  ravaging  the 
coast  of  Virginia,  under  Lord  Dunmore.  The  squadron  had  gone  into 
the  bay  and  rendezvoused  under  Cape  Henlopen  early  in  February.  It 
consisted  of  the  Alfred,  Columbus,  Doria,  Cabot,  Providence,  Hornet, 
Wasp,  and  Fly,  despatch  vessel.  Commodore  Hopkins  sailed  with  this 
force  on  the  i7th  of  February.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred,  and  in 
due  time  the  squadron  reached  Abaco,  in  the  Bahamas,  the  place  of  ren 
dezvous.  Here  Commodore  Hopkins  determined  to  make  a  descent  on 
New  Providence,  where  it  was  understood  a  considerable  amount  of  mill- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


tary  stores  had  been  collected.  A  battalion  of  three  hundred  men,  Ma 
rines  and  landsmen,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Nichols,  the  senior 
Marine  officer  of  the  service,  was  put  into  ten  sloops  with  the  hope 
of  surprising  the  place.  An  alarm  having  been  given,  however,  the 
Providence  and  Wasp  were  sent  in  to  cover  the  landing.  This  duty  was 
handsomely  performed,  and  Captain  Nichols  captured  the  forts  by  assault 
and  obtained  complete  command  of  the  place  in  the  course  of  the  after 
noon  and  following  morning.  A  hundred  cannon  and  a  large  quantity 
of  stores  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  although  the  governor  had 
succeeded  in  removing  a  large  quantity  of  powder  during  the  night.  On 
this  occasion,  the  first  that  ever  occurred  in  the  regular  American  Navy, 
"  the  Marines  under  Captain  Nichols  behaved  with  a  spirit  and  steadiness 
that  have  distinguished  the  Corps  from  that  hour  down  to  the  present 
moment."  On  as  close  an  examination  of  this  action  as  our  means  will 
allow,  the  following  officers  of  the  Corps  appear  to  have  been  attached  to 
the  squadron  :  Alfred,  Captains  Nichols  and  Robert  Mullin  ;  Columbus, 
Captain  Andrew  Porter ;  Providence,  First  Lieutenant  Peregrine  Brown. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  in  the  action  between  the  Alfred  and  Cabot  and 
the  British  2o-gun  frigate  Glasgow,  the  list  of  casualties  on  the  two 
American  vessels  amounted  to  twelve  seamen  and  eleven  marines  killed 
and  wounded. 

On  the  i  yth  of  April  the  Lexington,  Captain  Barry,  encountered  the 
Edward,  an  armed  tender  of  the  Liverpool,  and,  after  a  severe  action 
of  an  hour,  captured  her.  The  Lexington  had  four  of  her  crew  killed 
and  several  wounded,  among  the  latter  being  Sergeant  Haslit  of  the 
Marines.  Lieutenant  Abel  Morgan  commanded  the  Marines. 

During  the  year  1776  the  organization  of  the  Corps  was  further  per 
fected,  and  the  following  officers  were  appointed  June  25  : 


Samuel  Nichols Major. 

Andrew  Porter Captain. 

Joseph  Hardy Captain. 

Samuel  Shaw Captain. 

Benjamin  Deane Captain. 

Robert  Mullin Captain. 

John  Stuart Captain. 

Daniel  Henderson    .     First  Lieutenant. 
David  Lowe      .    .    .     First  Lieutenant. 


Franklin  Read  . 
Peregrine  Brown 
Thomas  Pownal 
James  McClure  . 
William  Gilmore 
Abel  Morgan 
Hugh  Morgan  . 


.  First  Lieutenant. 
.  First  Lieutenant. 
.  First  Lieutenant. 
Second  Lieutenant. 
Second  Lieutenant. 
Second  Lieutenant. 
Second  Lieutenant. 


Richard  Harrison  .   Second  Lieutenant. 


Other  appointments  during  the  same  year  succeeded  as  follows  :  July 
22,  Captains,  George  J.  Osborn  and  Richard  Palmer;  First  Lieutenant, 
Stephen  Meade  ;  Second  Lieutenants,  Nathaniel  Thwing  and  Benjamin 
Thompson ;  July  24,  First  Lieutenant,  Abraham  Van  Dyke ;  August  24, 
First  Lieutenant,  Louis  de  la  Valette ;  September  6,  Captain  William 
Nicholson. 

That  there  were  Marines  in  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Hopkins,  is 


26  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

known  from  the  fact  of  their  having  been  landed  at  New  Providence, 
where  they  were  the  assailing  force ;  but  even  the  greater  portion  of  the 
sea  officers  employed  on  that  occasion  had  merely  letters  of  appoint 
ment,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  such  was  also  the  case  with  Captains 
Nichols,  Mullin,  Porter,  and  Lieutenant  Brown.  Captain  Nichols  was 
undoubtedly  the  senior  officer  of  the  Corps  at  New  Providence,  although 
the  first  regular  roster  published  by  authority  places  him  at  the  head  of 
the  Corps  as  major.  But  this,  it  will  be  observed,  bears  the  date  of  June 
25,  and  Captain  Nichols  was  promoted  for  his  gallantry. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  two  days  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
the  Sachem,  ten  guns,  Captain  Robinson,  sailed  from  the  Delaware. 
When  a  few  days  out  she  fell  in  with  an  English  letter-of-marque  and 
captured  her,  after  a  sharp  contest.  Both  vessels  suffered  severely  in 
killed  and  wounded.  Some  time  in  August,  the  Doria,  while  off  the 
western  end  of  Porto  Rico,  encountered  an  English  vessel  of  war.  The 
enemy  commenced  the  action  by  firing  a  broadside,  which  was  immedi 
ately  returned  by  the  Doria.  After  a  severe  engagement  of  two  hours  the 
Englishman  surrendered.  The  prize  proved  to  be  the  Racehorse,  twelve 
guns,  Lieutenant  Jones,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  together  with  a  large 
number  of  his  crew.  The  casualties  on  board  the  Doria  amounted  to 
twelve.  Lieutenant  Daniel  Henderson  commanded  the  Marines 

By  this  time  the  whole  coast  was  alive  with  adventures,  scarcely  a 
week  passing  that  did  not  give  rise  to  some  incident  which  exhibited 
great  heroism.  Whenever  an  enemy's  cruiser  appeared,  or  attempted  to 
land,  skirmishes  ensued,  and  from  contemporary  accounts  the  informa 
tion  obtained  warrants  the  statement  that  the  Corps  was  fully  represented, 
and  its  officers  and  men  shared  in  the  affairs  of  personal  gallantry  dis 
played  on  the  coast  of  New  England,  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  coast  of 
the  Carolinas. 

The  following  was  the  uniform  for  the  officers  of  the  Corps,  by  order 
of  the  "Marine  Committee,"  dated  Philadelphia,  September  5,  1776: 
"A  green  coat  faced  with  white,  round  cuff,  slashed  sleeves  and  pockets, 
with  buttons  round  the  cuff,  silver  epaulette  on  the  right  shoulder, 
skirts  turned  back,  buttons  to  suit  the  facings ;  white  waistcoat  and 
breeches  edged  with  green,  black  gaiters  and  garters;"  green  shirts 
were  ordered  for  the  men,  "  if  they  can  be  procured." 

1777. — On  the  I4th  of  June  of  this  year,  Congress  first  adopted  the 
stars  and  stripes  as  the  national  flag. 

On  the  27th  of  June  an  action  was  fought  off  the  banks  of  Newfound 
land  between  the  British  32-gun  frigate  Fox  and  the  American  32-gun 
frigate  Hancock.  After  .an  engagement  of  two  hours,  which  resulted  in 
great  loss  to  the  enemy,  the  Fox  surrendered.  The  officers  of  the  Corps 
attached  to  the  Hancock  were  Captain  Benjamin  Deane,  First-Lieu 
tenant  Thomas  Pownal. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  27 


CHAPTER   II. 

1777. — Capture  of  Philadelphia — The  First  Attack  by  the  British  Fleet  on  the  Defences 
of  the  Delaware — Success  of  Commodore  Hazelwood  in  repulsing  the  Enemy — The 
Advance  Squadron  of  the  Enemy  succeeds  in  opening  the  Channel. 

IN  July,  General  Howe,  the  commander  of  the  British  forces,  occupied 
Staten  Island,  and  preparations  were  made  for  an  attack  on  Philadelphia. 
On  the  23d  of  the  same  month  a  powerful  armament,  consisting  of 
thirty-six  battalions  of  infantry  and  a  strong  detachment  of  artillery, 
sailed  from  Sandy  Hook  and  arrived  off  the  entrance  of  the  Delaware 
on  the  3ist.  Finding,  however,  that  the  Americans  had  obstructed  the 
navigation  of  the  river,  the  fleet  abandoned  the  attempt,  and  proceeded 
up  the  Chesapeake  on  the  i4th  of  August,  and  the  enemy  landed  at 
Elk  Ferry  on  the  25th.  On  the  3d  of  September  the  British  began 
their  march,  but  Washington,  who  had  returned  from  New  Jersey  by 
forced  marches  with  ten  thousand  men,  lost  no  opportunity  of  harassing 
the  enemy,  without  bringing  on  a  general  engagement.  Several  actions, 
however,  took  place,  notably  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and  German- 
town,  before  the  British  entered  Philadelphia,  resulting  in  great  loss  to 
them,  but  their  superiority  of  numbers  prevailed,  and  General  Howe 
entered  the  city  on  the  26th  of  September.  The  enemy  immediately 
commenced  the  erection  of  batteries  on  the  Delaware  front,  but  so 
prompt  and  energetic  were  the  officers  of  our  little  fleet,  that  before  the 
batteries  could  be  completed  two  frigates  and  some  small  galleys  came 
up  from  Mud  Island  and  attacked  the  lower  battery  of  four  guns, 
anchoring  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  position.  At  ten 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  September  our  vessels  com 
menced  a  heavy  cannonade  and  soon  silenced  the  battery.  The  tide 
ebbing,  however,  one  of  our  frigates,  the  Delaware,  took  the  ground 
and  was  soon  in  a  defenceless  condition.  She  was  therefore  obliged  to 
strike  her  colors,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  a  detachment  of  British 
Marines. 

The  first  effort  of  the  brothers  Howe,  so  soon  as  Philadelphia  was  cap 
tured,  was  to  open  the  navigation  of  the  Delaware  River,  so  that  the  trans 
ports  containing  provisions,  stores,  and  other  necessaries  for  the  British 
army  might  be  carried  by  water  to  it.  Both  the  British  commanders 
and  Washington  looked  to  this  matter  with  the  same  deep  interest.* 

There  were  three  fortifications  below  Philadelphia : 

First,  Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud  Island,  upon  the  Pennsylvania  side  of  the 

*  "  Without  the  free  navigation  of  the  Delaware,  I  am  confident  that  General  Howe 
will  never  remain  in  Philadelphia. —  Washington. 


28  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

river,  just  below  where  the  Schuylkill  empties  into  it,  seven  miles  below 
the  city. 

Opposite  to  Fort  Mifflin,  and  about  nineteen  hundred  yards — the 
width  of  the  river  here — from  it,  on  the  Jersey  shore,  was  Fort  Mercer, 
at  Red  Bank. 

The  third  fortification  was  Billingsport,  four  or  five  miles  lower  down 
the  river,  on  the  Jersey  side. 

Two  rows  of  chevaux-de-frise  were  sunk  opposite  to  Billingsport,  and 
four  rows  between  Fort  Mifflin  and  Fort  Mercer.  In  the  narrow  and 
difficult  channel  behind  Fort  Mifflin,  and  between  it  and  Province  Island, 
no  obstructions  had  been  placed.  In  the  channel  there,  as  up  to  that 
time  generally  known,  no  vessel  of  the  draft  of  water  made  by  even  the 
smallest  one  of  the  British  men-of-war  could  pass.  Between  the  north 
end  of  Hog  Island  and  the  south  end  of  Mud  Island  one  ship  was  sunk. 

The  moment  that  victory  on  the  Brandywine  opened  the  gates  of 
Philadelphia  to  the  enemy,  the  British  fleet  was  in  motion  down  the 
Chesapeake,  around  Cape  Charles,  and  up  the  Delaware,  in  order  that  it 
might  give,  by  opening  that  great  watercourse,  completeness  to  the 
capture.  The  admiral  cast  anchor  off  Chester,  on  the  6th  of  October, 
but  Captain  Hammond  with  an  advance  squadron — the  Roebuck,  Pearl, 
Camilla,  and  Liverpool — had  moved  up  the  river  as  the  army  advanced 
towards  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  ist  of  October  was  off  Billingsport. 
He  had  informed  General  Howe  that  if  a  sufficient  land  force  could  be 
sent  to  New  Jersey  to  attack  the  fortifications  at  that  point,  he  would 
take  upon  himself  the  task  of  removing  the  chevaux-de-frise  which  Bil 
lingsport  covered. 

On  the  ist  of  October  the  general  accordingly  sent  Colonel  Sterling 
with  two  regiments  of  grenadiers  from  Chester.  They  landed  about  five 
miles  below  the  fort,  now  garrisoned  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and 
on  the  2d  began  their  march  towards  it.  Colonel  Bradford  was  there  in 
time  to  bring  off  to  Fort  Mifflin  the  little  garrison  and  the  military 
stores,  Bradford  himself  remaining  until  fired  upon  by  the  advancing 
army.  Entered  by  the  British  on  the  2d  of  October,  it  was  evacuated  by 
them  on  the  5th.  It  uncovered  the  chevaux-de-frise  opposite  to  the 
place,  and  Captain  Hammond  went  to  work  with  his  squadron  in  re 
demption  of  his  pledge  to  remove  these  obstructions.  He  had  hardly 
got  his  squadron  at  work  before  Commodore  Hazelwood,  who  was  in 
command  of  our  fleet,*  went  at  it,  and  attacked  the  ships  so  sharply 
that  they  were  obliged  to  desist  from  their  efforts  and  to  fall  down  to 
Chester. 

*  Commodore  Hazelwood  was  born  in  England  in  1726;  died  at  Philadelphia,  March 
I,  1800.  He  was  promoted  commodore  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  Navy,  September  6, 
1777.  At  a  later  period  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  "  Commissioners  of  Purchase" 
in  Philadelphia. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  29 

Captain  Hammond,  however,  on  the  25th  of  October,  succeeded,  not 
without  much  difficulty,  being  continually  harassed  by  our  galleys,  fire- 
rafts,  and  other  armed  craft,  in  opening  a  sufficient  channel  for  the  larger 
ships. 

The  plan  of  the  brothers  Howe  was  now  developed.  It  was  to  attack 
simultaneously  Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer  by  land  and  water;  and,  as  re 
spected  Fort  Miffiin,  to  begin  their  attack  by  land  from  batteries  previ 
ously  erected  on  the  few  spots  of  hard  ground  at  the  junction  of  the 
Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  and  along  the  western  banks  of  the  narrow 
channel  behind  Fort  Mifflin. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Contemplated  Capture  by  the  Combined  British  Army  and  Navy  of  Forts  Mercer  and 
Mifflin — The  Attempt  made  October  22,  1777 — Attack  on  that  Day  on  Fort  Mercer 
repulsed  with  Heavy  Loss  to  the  Assailants — The  Navy  rendering  Great  Aid — No 
Serious  Attack  on  Fort  Mifflin — Two  British  Vessels  run  aground,  and  on  the  23d 
are  set  on  Fire — Their  Magazines  explode. 

BY  the  2oth  of  October,  a  passage  for  the  British  vessels  being  now 
opened  through  the  lower  chevaux-de-frise,  the  brothers  Howe  prepared 
to  attempt  the  capture  of  the  forts. 

The  general  had  been  able  to  erect  on  the  hard  grounds  of  the  rear 
island  a  redoubt  which  enfiladed  a  principal  battery  of  Fort  Mifflin. 

General  Howe  ordered  also  a  body  of  troops  to  be  landed  for  "  forcing 
the  redoubt,"  as  the  British  called  Fort  Mercer  at  Red  Bank. 

In  addition  to  the  erection  of  the  battery  on  Province  Island  intended 
to  play  on  the  rear  of  Fort  Mifflin,  and,  as  Admiral  Howe  tells  us,  on  the 
galleys  and  other  armed  craft,  the  squadron  from  the  British  fleet  had 
come  up  the  river.  It  consisted  of  the  Augusta,  Roebuck,  Liverpool, 
Pearl,  Merlin,  and  Isis. 

The  rest  of  the  plan  is  thus  disclosed  in  Lord  Howe's  official 
despatch  : 

"  It  was  intended  tin&t  the  Vigilant  should  pass  through  a  shallow  and 
very  confined  channel  on  Hog  Island  and  the  Pennsylvania  shore,  to 
arrive  and  act  upon  the  rear  and  less  defensible  part  of  the  work ;  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  navigation  not  admitting  of  a  more  serious 
attack,  ...  a  diversion  was  proposed  to  be  made  at  the  same  time  by  the 
Isis  and  Augusta  in  the  eastern  or  main  channel  of  the  river,  as  well  for 
engaging  the  attention  of  the  enemy  at  Fort  Island  and  the  redoubt  as 
to  restrain  the  motion  of  the  galleys  and  other  armed  crafts,  which  had 
retired  under  the  works  at  Red  Bank  when  they  discovered  the  danger 
which  they  would  be  exposed  to  from  our  batteries  on  the  western  shore. ' ' 


30  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Such  was  the  plan.  It  included,  as  will  be  seen,  an  attack  by  the 
Vigilant  on  the  rear  of  Fort  Mifflin.  But  even  an  attack  could  not  be 
made  on  this  fort.  And  while  on  Fort  Mercer  an  attack  was  made,  it 
was  one  which  ended  only  in  disaster. 

At  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  226.  of  October  a  force  of 
Hessians  under  Count  Dunop  attacked  the  fort  with  great  spirit. 
Having  carried  the  outworks,  his  troops  had  now  to  storm  the  interior 
intrenchments.  To  reach  these,  the  attacking  force  had  to  place  itself 
where  it  would  be  exposed  to  the  fire  of  our  vessels.  The  opportunity 
was  not  missed  by  Commodore  Hazelwood,  the  commander  of  the  fleet. 
Coming  as  near  as  possible  to  the  fort,  he  poured  in  a  hot  and  incessant 
fire  on  the  attacking  party.  The  assailants  retired,  but  only  to  find  in 
their  slower  and  disordered  retreat  a  still  more  deadly  fire  from  the  fleet. 
The  whole  advance,  attack,  and  retreat  lasted  but  forty-five  minutes ;  the 
loss  was  estimated  at  not  less  than  four  hundred,  including  Count  Dunop 
and  many  of  the  best  officers. 

The  loss  in  the  garrison  amounted  to  one  captain,  five  sergeants,  one 
fifer,  and  seven  privates  killed ;  one  ensign,  two  sergeants,  and  twenty 
privates  wounded. 

As  respected  Fort  Mifflin,  the  plan  failed  on  the  point  by  which  success 
was  expected  to  be  accomplished, — an  attack  by  the  Vigilant  on  the  rear 
and  less  defensible  part  of  the  work. 

On  the  evening  of  the  226  the  Augusta  and  Merlin  grounded  some  dis 
tance  below  the  second  line  of  chevaux-de-frise.  At  an  early  hour  the 
next  morning  empty  transports  were  making  their  way  up  from  the  fleet, 
and  other  preparations  made  for  lightening  the  grounded  vessels.  It  was 
too  late.  The  Navy  and  Fort  Mifflin  were  upon  them.  A  portion  of  the 
Navy  could  not  at  once  be  got  into  action.  The  British  squadron  lay 
below  the  stockades ;  and  while  certain  vessels  of  our  fleet  could  pass 
through  these  to  make  an  attack,  care  was  required  in  bringing  down 
others.  However,  twelve  galleys  and  two  floating  batteries  got  into 
action  at  once.  Soon  all  got  in  and  the  action  became  general.  The 
Augusta,  though  grounded,  had  her  broadside  constantly  playing  on 
them;  the  Roebuck,  the  two  frigates,  and  their  galleys  giving  good  sup 
port.  After  some  hours'  fighting,  a  tremendous  noise  was  heard.  A  volume 
of  thick  smoke  was  seen  ascending  to  the  heavens.  The  magazine  of  the 
Augusta  exploded,  and  that  of  the  Merlin  soon  followed.  These  succes 
sive  explosions  were  so  disastrous  to  the  British  fleet  that  only  three 
boat-loads  of  men  were  saved  from  the  two  well-manned  vessels. 

This  conjoint  success  by  sea  and  land  was,  with  reason,  regarded  as  an 
event  of  the  time.  It  encouraged  the  friends  of  the  Revolution  everywhere, 
and  discouraged  the  many,  who  were  disposed  to  put  themselves  under 
the  protection  of  the  British  troops  enjoying  themselves  in  Philadelphia. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  3 1 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Second  Attack  on  Fort  Mifflin — Success  of  the  British — A  Portion  of  the  State  Fleet 
saved — The  Continental  Fleet  burnt  by  its  Commander — The  Treason  of  Captain 
Robert  Whyte — Marines  attached  to  the  Pennsylvania  Navy. 

THE  new  attack  on  Fort  Mifflin  began  on  the  5th  of  November,  from 
land  batteries  placed  as  follows : 

Two  batteries  on  Province  Island,  having  two  32-pounders,  one  i8-pounder,  one 
32-pounder. 

One  battery  on  Carpenter's  Island,  having  six  24-pounders,  one  8-inch  howitzer,  one 
8-inch  mortar. 

One  battery  on  Carpenter's  Island,  having  one  8-inch  howitzer,  one  7-inch  mortar. 

One  battery  on  Carpenter's  Island,  having  one  15-inch  mortar. 

One  battery  on  the  mainland,  having  two  12-pounders,  one  i8-pounder. 

On  the  night  of  the  I4th  the  Vigilant  and  Fury  got  under  way,  and 
at  the  break  of  day  sailed  in  on  the  swelling  tide  behind  Hog  Island, 
and  by  the  time  that  broad  daylight  of  the  i5th  had  arrived,  anchored 
themselves  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  and  at  such  a  point  as 
enabled  them  to  aid  in  the  most  effective  manner  the  batteries  on  the  two 
islands. 

The  British  squadron  which  sailed  up  on  the  morning  of  the   i5th 

iV«Sj" "~" 

Somerset,  five  hundred  men 64  guns. 

Isis,  three  hundred  and  fifty  men 50  guns. 

Roebuck,  two  hundred  and  eighty  men 44  guns. 

Pearl,  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  men 32  guns. 

Liverpool 28  guns. 

Cornwallis,  galley I  gun. 

Vigilant,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 16  guns. 

Fury 3  guns. 

The  other  vessels  of  the  British  fleet  which  remained  below  were  the 
flagship  Eagle,  sixty-four  guns;  Experiment,  fifty  guns;  Renown,  fifty 
guns ;  Apollo,  thirty-two  guns ;  Zebra,  sixteen  guns ;  and  the  Camilla, 
twenty  guns. 

Our  own  little  Navy,  which  faced  this  mighty  armament,  was  as 
follows : 

STATE    FLEET. 

Galleys. — Bulldog,  Burke,  Camden,  Congress,  Dickinson,  Experiment, 
Effingham,  Franklin,  Hancock,  Ranger,  Warren,  Washington,  Witch. 

One  carrying one  32-pounder. 

Two  carrying  each one  24-pounder. 

Ten  carrying  each    . one  i8-pounder. 


32  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Half-Galleys.  —  Argus,    Basilisk,    Brimstone,    Dragon,    Eagle,    Fame, 
Firebrand,  Hawk,  Hornet,  Lion,  Porcupine,  Racehorse,  Repulse,  Reso 
lution,  Salamander,  Terror,  Thunder,  Tormentor,  Viper,  Vulture,  Wasp. 
Twenty-one  carrying  each    .............    one  4-pounder. 

Floating  Batteries.  —  Arnold  and  Putnam. 
One  carrying  .    ,    ...............   twelve  i8-pounders. 

One  carrying  .................    ten  i8-pounders. 

Provincial  Ship.  —  Montgomery. 

f  fourteen  i8-pounders, 
One  carrying  ...............    -|   sixteen  cohorns, 

[  eight  swivels. 

Armed  Schooner.  —  Delaware. 
Schooner  Galley.  —  Lydia. 


f  in  bow,  two  i8-pounders, 
One  carrying     .............    < 

I.  in  stern,  two  9-pounders. 

Brig  Galley.  —  Convention. 

One  carrying  in  bow,  two  i8-pounders;  in  stern,  two  9-pounders. 

Fire-Ships.—  Hecla,  Stromboli. 

fire-Brig.  —  Volcano. 
Fire-Brigantine.  —  Blast. 

Fire-Sloop.  —  ^Etna. 

Accommodation  Sloops.  —  Defiance,  Hetty,  Industry. 
Ammunition  Sloop.  —  Sally. 
Sloops.  —  Liberty,  Speedwell. 
Duck. 


CONTINENTAL   FLEET. 

Andria  Doria,  brig  ..............  Fourteen  6-pounders. 

Hornet,  sloop   ................  Twelve  9-pounders. 

Racehorse,  sloop  ...............  Ten  guns. 

Fly,  sloop  ...    ...............  Six  guns. 

Wasp,  schooner    ...............  Ten  9-pounders. 

Independence,  sloop    .............  Ten  9-pounders. 

Sachem,  sloop  ................  Ten  9-pounders. 

Mosquito,  sloop    ...............  Four  9-pounders. 

The  fleet  at  this  period  was  never  fully  manned;  besides,  half  of  our 
larger  vessels  were  short  of  cannon.  With  regard  to  half  our  fleet,  there 
fore,  at  this  critical  moment,  its  vessels  were  no  better  than  "painted 
ships  upon  a  painted  ocean." 

The  Delaware  fleet  was  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Hazelwood. 
After  twelve  hours  of  uninterrupted  fighting  the  garrison  was  evacuated  at 
midnight  of  the  i5th,  but  not  until  the  blockhouses  were  reduced  to 
ruins,  the  palisades  beaten  down,  the  barracks  battered  in  every  part, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  33 

most  of  the  guns  dismounted,  and  a  large  part  of  the  garrison  killed.  On 
the  fleet  twenty-eight  men  were  killed  and  twelve  wounded  ;  while  of  the 
twelve  galleys  in  action  only  one  was  not  shattered  by  shot.  The  fire- 
rafts  were  almost  all  destroyed  by  the  tempestuous  weather. 

It  now  became  necessary  to  determine  in  what  manner  the  vessels  of 
the  fleet  should  be  disposed  of,  in  order  to  prevent  their  capture  by  the 
enemy.  A  council  of  war  was  accordingly  held  on  board  the  Speedwell, 
on  November  iQth.  It  was  concluded  to  endeavor  to  pass  the  city  through 
the  Jersey  or  Eastern  channel.  Commodore  Hazelwood  got  thirteen 
galleys  and  nine  armed  boats  under  way  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  2oth  of  November.  Aided  by  the  darkness  and  the  fog,  he  was 
carried  by  the  "morning  flood"  alone,  in  about  an  hour  and  a  half, 
through  the  Jersey  channel  past  the  city,  and  by  ten  A.M.  he  was  at 
anchor  off  Burlington. 

The  Continental  fleet,  however,  under  Captain  Robinson  was  not  so 
fortunate.  On  the  morning  of  the  2ist,  Captain  Robinson,  being  unable 
to  escape  up  the  river,  set  fire  to  the  remaining  vessels  to  prevent  their 
capture  by  the  enemy.  As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  following  officers 
of  the  corps  were  engaged  in  these  operations  :  Captain  Andrew  Porter, 
Captain  Richard  Palmer,  First  Lieutenant  Daniel  Henderson,  First  Lieu 
tenant  Stephen  Meade. 

From  the  fact  that  the  channel  at  the  rear  of  Fort  Mifflin,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  British  admiral,  would  float  armed  vessels,  and  that  he 
from  the  beginning  meant  to  operate  by  means  of  it,  the  question  natu 
rally  arises,  "How  came  it  that  the  channel  at  the  rear  of  the  fort  was 
left  open  ? ' 

In  raising  this  question  it  must  be  recollected  that  great  pains  were 
taken  to  obstruct  the  navigation  of  the  channel  of  the  Delaware  vo.  front 
of  Fort  Mifflin. 

Whence  came  this  confidence  of  the  British  admiral  and  this  purpose  ? 

Is  it  possible  that  Fort  Mifflin  was  betrayed  ? 

In  a  letter  from  Wilmington,  Delaware,  dated  November  10,  1777, 
and  published  in  Rivington's  Royal  Gazette,  at  New  York,  then  in  pos 
session  of  the  British,  the  writer  refers  to  the  successful  opening,  just 
then  previously  made  by  Captain  Hammond,  of  the  obstructions  in  the 
river  at  Billingsport ;  he  says, — 

"  The  Roebuck  has  raised  three  parts  of  the  first  tier  in  the  face  of  the 
Rebel's  whole  fire.  The  man  who  laid  the  same  is  now  in  His  Majesty' s 
service" 

The  laying  of  the  chevaux-de-frise  at  Billingsport  was  committed  to 
Colonel  Robert  Smith,  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  Captain  Rob 
ert  Whyte  and  Mr.  Samuel  Morris,  of  Philadelphia. 

Both  Smith  and  Morris  are  well-known  characters  in  the  history  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  loyalty  of  both  at  all  times  to  the  cause  of  inde- 


34  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

pendence  is   undeniable.      The  only  person,  therefore,  to  whom  this 
imputation  can  apply  is  Captain  Whyte. 

In  the  year  1787,  ten  years  after  the  siege,  an  Englishman,  George 
Grien,  in  a  note  to  a  translation  which  he  made  and  then  published  in  Lon 
don,  of  "  Chastellux's  Travels  in  North  America,"  makes  this  statement : 

"The  person  principally  employed  in  sinking  the  chevaux-de-frise, 
and  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  river,  was  one  Whyte,  who  is  sup 
posed  to  have  left  the  river  open  designedly,  as  he  afterwards  went  over 
to  the  enemy  and  distinguished  himself  by  every  act  of  hostile  virulence 
against  his  country." 

"  Who,  then,  was  this  Whyte,  a  great  actor  in  the  events  of  America, 
if  these  British  accounts  are  true ;  not  yet,  indeed,  equal  in  infamy  with 
Arnold,  but  equal  in  baseness,  and  more  than  equal  in  success." 

"  Public  records  show  that  prior  to  December  14,  1779,  Captain 
Whyte  was  attainted  of  treason  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania ;  that  as 
early  as  April  23,  1782,  he  was  in  the  British  naval  service,  commanding 
a  royal  cutter."  * 

Marines  attached  to  the  following  vessels  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Navy  1776  and  1777: 

Arnold  Battery. — Captain  Thomas  Forest,  two  sergeants,  one  drum 
mer,  and  twenty-seven  privates. 

Bull  Dog. — Two  sergeants,  two  drummers,  one  fifer,  and  fifty-one 
privates. 

Burke. — Two  sergeants,  one  drummer,  and  twenty-six  privates. 

Camden. — Two  sergeants,  two  drummers,  one  fifer,  and  thirty-five 
privates. 

Chatham. — Two  sergeants  and  thirty-four  privates. 

Congress. — First  Lieutenant  Hugh  Montgomery,  two  sergeants,  two 
corporals,  two  drummers,  one  fifer,  and  thirty-nine  privates. 

Brig  Convention. — First  Lieutenant  Douglas  Spencer,  two  sergeants, 
one  drummer,  and  forty-one  privates. 

Dickinson. — Captain  John  Rice,  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  one 
drummer,  two  fifers,  and  sixty-nine  privates. 

Effingham. — First  Lieutenant  James  Kirkpatrick,  two  sergeants,  two 
corporals,  two  drummers,  two  fifers,  and  fifty-nine  privates. 

Experiment. — First  Lieutenant  James  Glasgow,  two  sergeants,  one 
drummer,  one  fifer  and  fifty-one  privates. 

Franklin. — Second  Lieutenant  Samuel  Snowden,  two  sergeants,  three 
drummers,  one  fifer,  and  fifty-six  privates. 

General  Greene. — Captain  Robert  Caldwell,  Lieutenants  John  Ham- 
bright,  Jr.,  Jonas  Mackey,  three  sergeants,  two  corporals,  one  drummer, 
one  fifer,  and  thirty  privates. 

*"  Colonel  William  Bradford,  the  Patriot  Printer  of  1776."  By  John  William 
Wallace. 


ARCHIBALD  HENDERSON, 

BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  U.  S.  MARINE  CORPS 

COMMANDANT    FROM    OCTOBER    17,    1820,    TO   JUNE    6, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  3  5 

Hancock. — First  Lieutenant  William  Martin,  two  sergeants,  two  drum 
mers,  one  fifer,  and  sixty  privates. 

Flag-Ship  Montgomery. — Captain  William  Brown,  First  Lieutenant 
James  Morrison,  Second  Lieutenant  Thomas  Caldwell,  two  sergeants, 
two  corporals,  two  drummers,  and  fifty-eight  privates. 


CHAPTER  V. 

1778-80. — Second  Descent  on  New  Providence — Ranger  and  the  Drake — Capture  of 
a  British  Privateer — Capture  of  the  British  Sloop  Jason,  Schooner  Hibernia,  and  Five 
Transports — The  Expedition  to  Castine — The  Squadron  under  Commodore  Paul 
Jones — Trumbull  and  Watt — Alliance — Congress  and  Savage — The  Hyder  Ally. 

THE  naval  operations  of  the  year  opened  with  a  gallant  exploit, 
achieved  by  the  United  States  sloop  Providence,  Captain  Rathburne. 
This  vessel  carried  only  4-pounders  and  is  said  to  have  had  a  crew  of 
but  fifty  sailors  and  a  sergeant's  guard  of  Marines  on  board.  Notwith 
standing  this  trifling  force,  Captain  Rathburne  made  a  descent  on  the 
Island  of  New  Providence,  at  the  head  of  twenty-five  Marines  and 
sailors.  He  was  joined  by  a  few  American  prisoners,  less  than  thirty, 
and,  while  a  privateer  of  sixteen  guns,  with  a  crew  of  fifty  men,  lay  in 
the  harbor,  he  seized  the  forts,  got  possession  of  the  stores,  and  ob 
tained  command  of  the  place.  All  the  vessels  in  port,  six  in  number, 
fell  into  his  hands,  and  an  attempt  of  the  armed  populace  to  overpower 
him  was  suppressed  by  a  menace  to  burn  the  town.  Captain  Rathburne 
spiked  the  guns  of  the  fort,  removed  all  the  ammunition  and  small-arms, 
burned  two  of  his  prizes^  and  sailed  with  the  remainder  without  leaving 
a  man  behind  him.  On  the  loth  of  April,  Paul  Jones  sailed  from  Brest 
on  a  cruise  in  the  Irish  Channel.  On  the  24th  he  arrived  off  Carrick- 
fergus  in  the  roads  of  which  the  Drake,  sloop  of  war,  Captain  Burden, 
a  vessel  equal  in  force  to  the  Ranger,  lay  anchored.  The  commander 
of  the  British  vessel  sent  out  an  officer,  in  one  of  his  boats,  to  ascertain 
the  character  of  the  stranger.  By  skilful  handling,  the  officer  in  charge 
of  the  boat  was  decoyed  alongside  and  taken.  In  a  short  time  the 
English  ship  was  seen  under  way.  The  Ranger  now  filled  and  stood 
off  the  land  with  a  view  to  draw  her  enemy  more  into  the  channel, 
where  she  lay  to,  in  waiting  for  her  antagonist.  The  tide  being  un 
favorable,  the  Drake  worked  out  of  the  roads  slowly,  and  night  was 
approaching  before  she  drew  near  the  Ranger.  The  Ranger  gave  the 
first  broadside,  and  the  battle  was  fought  running  free,  under  easy  can 
vas.  It  lasted  an  hour  and  four  minutes,  when  the  Drake  called  for 
quarter,  her  ensign  being  already  down.  The  loss  on  the  English  ship 
amounted  to  forty.  Her  captain  and  first  lieutenant  were  both  des 
perately  wounded,  and  died  shortly  after  the  engagement.  The  Ranger 

3 


36  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

suffered  much  less,  having  Lieutenant  Wallingford  of  the  Marines  and 
one  man  killed  and  six  wounded. 

In  the  manuscript  diary  of  William  Jenison,  Lieutenant  of  Marines 
on  board  the  United  States  ship  Boston,  then  just  arrived  on  the 
coast  of  France,  there  is  noted  the  following  requisition  under  date 


ON  BOARD  THE  BOSTON.  APril  IIth' 

Wanted,  for  the  use  and  service  of  the  Marines  belonging  to  this  ship  : 
40  green  coats  faced  with  white, 
40  white  waistcoats,  and 
40  white  breeches. 

The  buttons  of  the  whole  to  be  a  plain  white.  Coats  to  be  open-sleeved,  and  a 
belt  for  every  waistcoat. 

In  behalf  of  the  Captain  of  Marines, 

WILLIAM  JENISON,  Lieutenant  of  Marines. 

It  appears  from  this  that  the  buttons  for  the  Marine  uniform  at  that 
date  were  not  gilt,  but  were  covered  with  plain  white,  like  the  facings. 

Under  date  of  May  13,  we  find  "Regimentals  for  the  Marines,  an 
uniform  ordered  by  Congress]  '  was  brought  on  board  and  distributed  to 
officers  and  men. 

1779.  —  On  the  1  8th  of  April  the  United  States  ships  Warren,  Captain 
J.  B.  Hopkins,  Queen  of  France,  Captain  Olney,  and  Ranger,  Captain 
Simpson,  sailed  from  Boston  on  a  cruise.  This  squadron  captured 
a  British  privateer  of  fourteen  guns,  and  later,  off  Cape  Henry,  the 
cruisers  came  up  with  nine  sail,  seven  of  which  they  captured.  The 
vessels  taken  were  the  Jason,  twenty  guns,  and  the  schooner  Hibernia, 
eight  guns.  In  addition  to  these  vessels  the  brigs  Patriot,  Prince  Fred 
erick,  Bachelor  John,  and  schooner  Chance,  all  laden  with  stores,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Among  the  prisoners  were  twenty- 
four  British  officers  on  their  way  to  join  their  regiments  at  the  South. 
The  following  officers  of  Marines  served  in  this  squadron  :  Warren, 
Captain  William  Nicholson  ;  Queen  of  France,  First  Lieutenant  Abra 
ham  Van  Dyke;  Ranger,  Second  Lieutenant  Benjamin  Thompson. 

Captain  John  Adams,  of  the  Boston,  states  in  his  diary,  that  the  uni 
form  of  the  Marines  at  this  period  were  changed  from  green  to  red,  the 
facings  being  the  same  in  both  uniforms. 

Adams,  who  had  no  love  for  Paul  Jones,  writes  in  his  diary,  dating 
from  Port  Louis,  L'Orient,  Thursday,  May  13,  1799  : 

"After  dinner  walked  out  with  Captain  Jones  and  Landais  to  see 
Jones's  Marines  dressed  in  the  English  uniform,  red  and  white  ;  a 
number  of  very  active  and  clever  sergeants  and  corporals  are  employed 
to  teach  them  the  exercises  and  manoeuvres  and  marches,  etc.  ;  after 
which  Jones  came  on  board  our  ship.  This  is  the  most  ambitious  and 
intriguing  officer  in  the  American  Navy.  Jones  has  art  and  secrecy,  and 
aspires  very  high.  You  see  the  character  of  the  man  in  his  uniform,  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  37 

that  of  his  officers  and  Marines  variant  from  the  uniform  established  by 
Congress, — golden  buttons  for  himself,  two  epaulets  ;  Marines  in  red  and 
white  instead  of  green.  Excentricities  and  irregularities  are  to  be  ex 
pected  from  him.  They  are  in  his  character,  they  are  visible  in  his 
eyes.  His  voice  is  soft  and  still  and  small ;  his  eye  has  keenness  and 
mildness  and  softness  in  it." 

In  the  spring  of  1779  tne  British  leaders  conceived  the  idea  that  it  was 
essential  to  their  interests  that  a  military  post  be  established  on  the  coast 
of  Maine.  With  that  object  in  view,  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  from 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  for  the  invasion  of  that  district.  About  one  thou 
sand  men  were  detached  from  the  Seventy-fourth  and  Eighty-second 
Regiments  of  Royal  Artillery,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Briga 
dier-General  McLane  ;  the  ships  North,  Nautilus,  and  Albany,  each  of 
sixteen  guns,  were  used  as  convoys,  Captain  Mowat  in  command.  This 
was  not  the  first  time  that  Mowat  had  invaded  the  shores  of  Maine,  for 
it  was  but  a  few  years  before  that  he  had  deliberately  burned  the  town  of 
Portland,  then  called  Falmouth,  to  the  ground.  His  name  was  still  one 
of  terror  to  the  people  of  that  vicinity,  and  it  was  a  source  of  great  sor 
row  to  them,  on  the  i6th  of  June,  that  this  officer  again  landed  on  their 
shores.  Castine,  near  the  entrance  of  the  Penobscot  River,  was  selected 
as  the  spot  upon  which  to  establish  the  post,  and  the  erection  of  a  fort 
was  immediately  begun.  Batteries  were  erected  upon  the  banks  of  the 
river,  and  the  ships  of  war  were  advantageously  disposed  of  in  the 
harbor.  These  dispositions  having  been  made,  the  invasion  was  con 
sidered  accomplished.  But  the  people  of  Massachusetts  would  not 
quietly  submit  to  allow  the  enemy's  foot  to  rest  undisturbed  on  their 
territory, — Maine  being  but  a  district  of  Massachusetts  at  that  time. 
The  spirit  which  led  to  the  belief,  since  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  that 
the  British  dared  not  invade  Massachusetts,  still  prevailed,  and  when  the 
news  of  the  landing  at  Castine  was  received  at  Boston,  the  excitement 
was  intense.  It  was  immediately  resolved  to  send  an  armed  fleet  to  the 
scene.  The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  was  called  upon,  and,  the 
appeal  being  favorably  received  by  that  body,  orders  were  issued  for 
detaching  a  force  of  fifteen  hundred  men  from  the  State  militia,  and  the 
Board  of  War  was  authorized  to  engage  armed  ships  for  the  service. 
Application  to  Congress  for  aid  was  also  successful,  and  the  fleet  was 
rapidly  fitted  out.  The  United  States  frigate  Warren,  of  thirty-two 
guns,  was  loaned  for  the  expedition  ;  she  carried  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Saltonstall,  who  was  also  made 
commander-in-chief.  Congress  also  granted  the  use  of  two  sloops-of- 
war,  the  Diligence  and  the  Providence,  of  fourteen  and  twelve  guns  re 
spectively,  then  lying  in  Boston  harbor ;  the  former  vessel  carried  ninety 
men,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Captain  Brown,  and  the  latter 
seventy  men,  Captain  Hacker. 


38  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

The  government  of  Massachusetts  furnished  three  vessels,  as  follows : 
the  Tyrannicide,  of  fourteen  guns,  Captain  Cathcart,  ninety  men  ;  the 
Active,  sixteen  guns,  Captain  Hallet,  one  hundred  men  ;  the  Hazard, 
fourteen  guns,  Captain  Williams,  ninety  men.  Thirteen  vessels  were 
also  hired,  by  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  from  citizens  of  Boston, 
Salem,  and  Newbury,  and  fitted  up  for  the  expedition.  The  Hampden, 
Captain  Salter,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  carried  twenty  guns 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  ;  the  Pallas,  Captain  Johnson,  fourteen 
guns  and  eighty  men ;  the  Sky-Rocket,  Captain  Burke,  sixteen  guns  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men ;  the  Black  Prince,  eighteen  guns,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men  ;  the  Nector,  Captain  Carnes,  eighteen  guns,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men  ;  the  Monmouth,  Captain  Ross,  twenty  guns,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men ;  the  Hunter,  Captain  Brown,  twenty  guns,  one 
hundred  and  eighty  men  ;  the  Putnam,  Captain  Waters,  twenty  guns, 
one  hundred  and  seventy  men ;  the  Vengeance,  Captain  Thomas, 
eighteen  guns,  one  hundred  and  ninety  men.  The  Revenge,  of  eighteen 
guns,  and  the  Defence,  of  fourteen,  carried  one  hundred  and  fifty  and 
eighty  men  respectively,  but  the  names  of  their  captains  are  not  known. 
There  was  also  a  schooner  of  eight  guns,  carrying  forty  men,  whose  cap 
tain's  name  has  not  been  preserved.  "  A  remarkable  fact  showing  the 
enthusiasm  which  existed  in  the  cause  is  that  no  less  than  thirty  masters 
of  merchant  ships  in  Newburyport  volunteered  as  common  seamen  on 
board  the  Vengeance,  and,  in  deference  to  the  superior  age  and  experience 
of  one  of  these,  Captain  Thomas,  Captain  Dennis  relinquished  the 
command  of  the  ship,  himself  acting  as  lieutenant. 

The  command  of  the  land  forces  was  given  to  Brigadier-General  Lovell, 
an  officer  whose  superior  merit  had  gained  him  a  great  reputation  for  cour 
age  and  skill.  Unfortunately,  however,  some  delay  had  prevented  a  por 
tion  of  the  militia  from  arriving  at  Townsend,  the  place  of  rendezvous  in 
Maine,  at  the  appointed  time,  and  upon  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  of  armed 
ships  and  transports  punctually  on  the  day  named,  the  general  found  but 
nine  hundred  of  the  militia  instead  of  the  promised  fifteen  hundred.  This 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  all ;  but  for  numerous  reasons  the  greatest 
despatch  was  necessary,  and  delay  would  have  chafed  the  spirits  of  the 
brave  men  who  were  ready  for  work,  so  that,  after  careful  consideration  of 
the  subject,  it  was  decided  in  a  council  of  war  to  proceed  at  once.  The 
militia  therefore  embarked  on  board  the  transports  which  had  been 
provided  for  them,  and,  accompanied  by  the  armed  vessels  with  three 
hundred  Marines  under  the  command  of  Captain  Osborn,  sailed  from 
Townsend,  arriving  at  the  place  of  destination  on  the  25th  of  July. 

So  well,  however,  had  the  British  defences  been  arranged  that  it  was 
not  until  the  28th  that  a  landing  was  effected.  This  was  at  last  accom 
plished  by  the  Marines  and  the  militia,  the  place  chosen  for  a  land 
ing  being  at  the  foot  of  a  precipitous  height  which  rose  abruptly  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  39 

almost  perpendicularly  from  the  river.  The  advance  of  the  British  force 
was  stationed  in  a  wood  on  the  top  of  this  very  eminence.  According  to 
General  Lovell's  previous  orders,  the  main  body  of  the  seamen  put  off 
from  the  ships  immediately  after  the  troops  had  landed.  The  word  to 
advance  was  then  given,  and  the  intrepid  body  of  Marines  and  militia, 
closely  followed  by  the  seamen,  met  their  own  number  of  Scotch  regulars, 
and  with  such  unabated  ardor  and  zeal  was  the  battle  pushed  that  the 
enemy  was  driven  back  within  their  works.  But  this  step  was  only  gained 
at  a  great  sacrifice  to  the  patriots,  for  several  officers  of  merit  were  slain 
and  of  the  Marines  and  militia  about  one  hundred  were  killed  and 
wounded.  Many  acts  of  heroic  courage  on  the  part  of  the  Marines, 
seamen,  and  militia  signalized  the  affair,  reflecting  the  highest  credit  upon 
all.  Upon  reconnoitring,  however,  General  Lovell  found  that  the  enemy 
had  intrenched  themselves  so  securely,  and  their  defences  were  of  such 
strength,  that  it  would  be  worse  than  useless  to  attack  them  in  their  strong 
hold  until  reinforcements  could  be  obtained.  Neither  was  Commodore 
Saltonstall  willing  to  attempt  the  destruction  of  the  British  ships  lying  in 
the  harbor,  even  after  the  batteries  had  been  captured.  A  council  of  war 
was  called,  and  it  was  decided  to  send  for  reinforcements  and  to  suspend 
operations  until  they  should  arrive. 

Help,  however,  did  not  arrive  as  soon  as  it  was  expected,  and  in  the 
mean  time  the  British  had  also  sent  for  assistance,  which  was  despatched 
promptly ;  and  on  the  i4th  of  August  a  British  fleet  from  New  York,  under 
the  command  of  Sir  George  Collier,  sailed  into  the  harbor.  This  fleet 
comprised  the  Raisonnable,  of  sixty-four  guns,  and  the  frigates  Blonde, 
Virginia,  Greyhound,  Galatea,  and  Camilla.  This  arrival  was  a  great 
blow  to  the  Americans,  who  saw  at  once  that  the  project  of  driving  out 
the  British  must  be  abandoned,  flight  being  the  only  recourse  left  them. 
Captain  Saltonstall  immediately  communicated  with  General  Lovell,  who 
was  on  shore  with  his  troops,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  prepara 
tions  were  at  once  made  to  evacuate  the  position  which  they  held.  Before 
dawn  the  little  army  was  on  board  the  transports  and  sailing  up  the  river, 
the  only  direction  open  to  them.  But  their  flight  was  immediately  dis 
covered  by  the  enemy,  who  started  in  pursuit.  The  enemy  soon  got  near 
enough  to  use  their  chase  guns,  and  the  fire  was  returned  by  the  Ameri 
cans.  It  was  undoubtedly  the  wish  of  Captain  Saltonstall  to  reach  the 
shallow  waters  before  he  was  overtaken ;  but  finding  this  impracticable, 
he  ran  his  ship  on  shore  and  set  her  on  fire.  Others  followed  his  example, 
and  most  of  the  vessels  were  destroyed,  though  three  or  four  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  loss  on  the  Warren  was  thirty  killed  and 
wounded,  while  the  loss  among  the  troops  amounted  to  one  hundred. 
The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  engaged  in  this  expedition : 
Captains  Osborn,  Palmer,  and  Nicholson ;  Lieutenants  Thuing,  Mc- 
Clure,  and  Gilmore. 


4O  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

On  the  1 4th  of  August  the  squadron  under  the  command  of  Commo 
dore  Paul  Jones,  consisting  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  Alliance,  Pallas, 
Cerf,  and  Vengeance,  sailed  from  the  anchorage  under  the  Isle  of  Groix, 
off  L'Orient.  On  the  23d  of  September,  in  the  combat  between  the  Rich 
ard  and  the  Serapis,  an  unusual  number  of  lives  were  lost,  though  no  reg 
ular  authentic  report  appears  to  have  been  given  on  either  side.  In  the 
action  the  Marines  suffered  out  of  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  crew. 
Out  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  Marines,  forty-nine  were  killed  or 
wounded.  On  board  of  the  Richard  the  detachment  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Stack  ;  his  subordinate  officers  were  Lieutenants  Ma- 
carty  and  O'Kelly.  On  the  Alliance  were  Captain  Park,  First  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Ellenwood,  and  Second  Lieutenant  James  Warren. 

1780. — The  first  action  of  moment  that  occurred  this  year  between  any 
United  States  vessel  and  the  enemy  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
the  most  hotly  and  obstinately  contested  combats  of  the  war.  On  the  2d 
of  June  the  Trumbull,  twenty-eight  guns,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
James  Nicholson,  while  cruising  in  latitude  35°  54',  longitude  66°  W., 
made  a  strange  sail  to  windward.  Making  sail  in  pursuit,  the  Trumbull 
was  soon  within  a  hundred  yards  of  her  antagonist,  which  had  in  the 
mean  time  shown  English  colors.  The  English  ship  fired  the  first  broad 
side  and  the  action  began  in  earnest.  For  two  hours  and  a  half  the  vessels 
lay  nearly  abeam  of  each  other,  giving  and  receiving  broadsides  without 
intermission.  At  no  time  were  they  half  a  cable's  length  asunder,  and 
more  than  once  the  yards  nearly  interlaced.  Twice  was  the  Trumbull  set 
on  fire  by  the  wads  of  her  opponent,  and  once  the  enemy  suffered  in  the 
same  way.  At  last  the  fire  of  the  Englishman  slackened  sensibly  until  it 
nearly  ceased.  At  this  juncture  the  main-  and  mizzen-top-masts  of  the 
Trumbull  went  over  the  side,  and,  in  spite  of  every  effort  to  secure  them, 
spar  after  spar  came  down  until  nothing  was  left  but  the  fore-mast.  The 
enemy  being  in  a  crippled  condition  speedily  made  off  on  her  proper 
course,  but  before  she  was  out  of  sight  her  main-top-mast  also  was  seen  to 
fall.  The  enemy  proved  to  be  the  Watt,  a  larger  and  stronger  ship  and 
carrying  more  men  than  her  opponent.  The  Trumbull  lost  thirty-nine  in 
killed  and  wounded,  among  the  former  of  whom  were  two  of  her  lieuten 
ants.  Captain  Andrew  Porter  of  the  Corps  was  attached  to  this  vessel.* 

1781. — In  February,  Captain  John  Barry,  in  command  of  the  Alliance, 
sailed  from  Boston  for  France.  On  the  outward  passage  she  captured  the 
Alert.  On  her  return,  in  company  with  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  she 
captured  the  Mars,  twenty-six  guns,  and  the  Minerva,  ten  guns.  After 
this  success  the  Alliance  parted  company  with  her  consort  and  the  prizes, 
and  continued  to  cruise  until  the  28th  of  May,  when  two  vessels  of  the 


*  Captain  Porter,  although  at  this  time  attached  to  the  army  as  captain  of  artillery, 
was  detailed  at  his  own  request  for  duty  on  the  Trumbull. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  41 

enemy,  a  sloop  of  sixteen  guns  and  a  brig  of  fourteen,  were  encountered. 
After  a  severe  action  of  several  hours,  during  which  Captain  Barry  was 
severely  wounded,  the  British  vessels  hauled  down  their  colors.  Captain 
Park  and  Lieutenants  Ellenwood  and  Warren  were  the  officers  of  the 
Corps  on  board  the  Alliance. 

In  the  engagement  on  the  6th  of  September  between  the  Congress  and 
the  British  sloop-of-war  Savage,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  lat 
ter  vessel,  the  Marines  were  commanded  by  Second  Lieutenant  Richard 
Harrison. 

1782. — In  March,  1782,  Captain  Barney,  in  command  of  the  Hyder 
Ally,  fitted  out  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  with  a  crew  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  seamen  and  Marines,  captured  in  Delaware  Bay  the  British  ship 
General  Monk,  eighteen  guns,  after  a  hotly-contested  combat.  This 
action  has  been  justly  deemed  one  of  the  most  brilliant  that  ever  occurred 
under  the  American  flag.  It  was  fought  in  the  presence  of  a  vastly 
superior  force  that  was  not  engaged ;  and  the  ship  taken  was,  in  every 
essential  respect,  superior  to  her  conqueror. 

The  termination  of  the  first  war  in  which  America  was  engaged  as  a 
separate  nation  was  proclaimed  on  the  nth  of  April,  after  a  struggle 
that  had  endured  for  seven  years  and  ten  months. 

At  no  period  of  the  naval  history  of  the  world  is  it  probable  that 
Marines  were  more  important  than  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  In 
many  instances  they  preserved  the  vessels  to  the  country  by  suppressing  the 
turbulence  of  their  ill-assorted  crews,  and  the  effect  of  their  fire  not  only 
then,  but  in  all  the  subsequent  conflicts,  under  those  circumstances  in 
which  it  could  be  resorted  to,  has  been  singularly  creditable  to  their 
steadiness  and  discipline.  The  history  of  the  Navy,  even  at  that  early 
day,  as  well  as  in  these  later  times,  abounds  with  instances  of  the  gallantry 
and  self-devotion  of  this  body  of  soldiers.  The  Marine  incurs  the  same 
risks  from  disease  and  tempests,  undergoes  the  same  privations,  suffers 
the  same  hardships,  and  sheds  his  blood  in  the  same  battles  as  the  seamen, 
and  the  nation  owes  him  the  same  rewards.  Necessity  makes  him  the 
subordinate,  but  nations  ought  never  to  overlook  the  important  moral 
and  political  truth,  that  the  brightest  lessons  they  can  teach  are  those  of 
justice  ;  and  no  servant  of  the  public  should  pass  a  youth  of  toil  and 
danger,  without  the  consciousness  of  possessing  a  claim  to  a  certain  and 
honorable  reward,  that  is  dependent  only  on  himself.  That  this  reward 
was  as  unwisely  as  it  was  unfairly  withheld  for  many  years,  from  rt// con 
nected  with  the  Navy,  is  acknowledged,  and  in  no  instance  was  this  in 
justice  more  signally  denied  than  to  the  Marine  Corps. 

It  remains  only  to  say  that  the  Navy  of  the  Revolution  and,  conse 
quently,  the  Corps  of  Marines,  like  the  army,  was  disbanded  at  the 
termination  of  the  struggle,  literally  leaving  nothing  behind  it  but  the 
recollections  of  its  services  and  sufferings. 


42  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

1798-1800. — Commencement    of  the  New  Navy — The  Organization  of  the  Corps — 
Marine  Camp  near  Philadelphia — The  Quasi  French  War — Death  of  Washington. 

ON  the  30th  of  April,  1798,  a  regular  Navy  Department  was  formally 
created,  and  in  June,  Benjamin  Stoddart,  of  Georgetown,  D.C.,  was  made 
the  first  secretary.  Down  to  this  moment  the  old  treaty  of  alliance,  formed 
between  France  and  the  United  States,  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
was  legally  in  existence ;  but  Congress  by  law  abrogated  this  treaty  on 
the  yth  of  July,  1798,  on  the  plea  that  it  had  been  repeatedly  disregarded 
by  France,  and  that  the  latter  country  continued,  in  the  face  of  the  most 
solemn  remonstrances,  to  practise  a  system  of  predatory  warfare  on  the 
commerce  of  the  country. 

On  the  nth  of  July,  1798,  an  act  was  approved  "for  the  establishing 
and  organizing  a  '  Marine  Corps.'  ' 

This  act  provided  that,  in  addition  to  the  military  establishment,  there 
should  be  raised  and  organized  a  Corps  of  Marines,  to  consist  of  one 
major,  four  captains,  sixteen  first  lieutenants,  twelve  second  lieutenants, 
forty-eight  sergeants,  forty-eight  corporals,  thirty-two  drums  and  fifes, 
and  seven  hundred  and  twenty  privates,  including  the  marines  already 
enlisted,  or  authorized  to  be  raised  for  the  naval  armament.  The  corps 
was  to  be  formed  into  as  many  companies  or  detachments  as  the  Presi 
dent  should  direct,  with  a  proper  distribution  of  the  commissioned  and 
non-commissioned  officers  and  musicians  to  each  company  or  detachment. 
The  pay  and  subsistence  of  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  musi 
cians,  and  privates  was  fixed  as  follows :  To  a  major,  fifty  dollars  per 
month  and  four  rations  per  day ;  to  a  captain,  forty  dollars  per  month 
and  three  rations  per  day ;  to  a  first  lieutenant,  thirty  dollars  per  month 
and  three  rations  per  day;  to  a  second  lieutenant,  twenty-five  dollars  per 
month  and  two  rations  per  day;  and  to  the  non-commissioned  officers, 
musicians,  and  privates,  conformably  to  the  act  entitled  "  An  act  pro 
viding  a  naval  armament,"  as  should  be  fixed  by  the  President.  The 
President  was  authorized  to  continue  the  enlistment  of  Marines,  until  the 
corps  should  be  complete ;  and  to  appoint  the  commissioned  officers, 
whenever,  in  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  an  appointment  should  be  necessary. 
The  enlistments  were  to  be  for  the  term  of  three  years,  subject  to  dis 
charge  by  the  President,  or  by  the  ceasing  or  repeal  of  the  laws  providing 
for  the  naval  armament.  If  the  Marine  Corps,  or  any  part  of  it,  should 
be  ordered  by  the  President  to  do  duty  on  shore,  and  it  should  become 
necessary  to  appoint  an  adjutant,  paymaster,  quartermaster,  sergeant- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  43 

major,  quartermaster-se:geant,  and  drum-  and  fife-major,  or  any  of  them, 
the  major  or  commandant  of  the  Corps  was  authorized  to  appoint  such 
staff-officer  or  officers  from  the  line  of  subalterns,  sergeants,  and  musicians 
respectively,  who  should  be  entitled,  during  the  time  they  should  do  such 
duty,  to  the  same  extra  pay  and  emoluments  which  were  allowed  by  law 
to  officers  acting  in  the  same  capacities  in  the  infantry. 

It  was  further  provided  that  the  detachments  of  the  Corps  of  Marines, 
thus  authorized,  should  be  made  in  lieu  of  the  respective  quotas  of 
Marines,  which  had  been  established  or  authorized  for  the  frigates  and 
other  armed  vessels  and  galleys  which  should  be  employed  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States.  The  President  was  authorized  to  detach  and 
appoint  such  of  the  officers  of  this  Marine  Corps  to  act  on  board  the 
frigates  and  any  of  the  armed  vessels  of  the  United  States  respectively 
as  he  should  from  time  to  time  judge  necessary,  anything  in  the  act 
"  providing  a  naval  armament"  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  The 
officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  privates  and  musicians  were  to  take 
the  same  oath  and  be  governed  by  the  same  rules  and  articles  of  war  as 
were  prescribed  for  the  military  establishment  of  the  United  States  and 
by  the  rules  for  the  regulation  of  the  Navy,  according  to  the  nature  of 
the  service  in  which  they  should  be  employed,  and  should  be  entitled  to 
the  same  allowance,  in  case  of  wounds  or  disabilities,  according  to  their 
respective  ranks,  as  were  granted  by  the  "Act  to  ascertain  and  fix  the 
military  establishment  of  the  United  States."  It  was  provided  that 
"  the  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  seamen,  and  marines,  who 
are  or  shall  be  enlisted  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
non-commissioned  officers  and  musicians  who  are  or  shall  be  enlisted 
into  the  army  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  and  they  are  hereby  exempted, 
during  the  term  of  service,  from  all  personal  arrests  for  any  debt  or  con 
tract."  It  was  specially  provided  that  the  Marine  Corps  established  by 
this  act  should,  at  any  time,  be  liable  to  do  duty  in  the  forts  and  garri 
sons  of  the  United  States,  on  the  sea-coast,  or  any  other  duty  on  shore, 
as  the  President,  at  his  discretion,  should  direct. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Corps  in  1798  : 

MAJOR   COMMANDANT. 

Date. 

William  W.  Burrows 12  July,  1798. 

CAPTAINS. 

Daniel  Carmick 3  August,  1798. 

Lemuel  Clark 3  August,  1798. 

George  Memminger 3  August,  1798. 

Franklin  Wharton 3  August,  1798. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

Richard  Harwood 10  July,  1798. 

S.  W.  Geddis 26  July,  1798. 


44  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Date. 

John  Hall 2  August,  1798. 

Philip  Edwards 3  August,  1798. 

James  McKnight 3  August,  1798. 

James  James 9  August,  1798. 

William  Cammack I  September,  1798. 

Jonathan  Church 5  September,  1798. 

Bartholomew  Clinch 5  September,  1798. 

Diamond  Colton 5  September,  1798. 

James  Tallman 5  September,  1798. 

Reuben  Lilly •  .    .    .    9  September,  1798. 

H.  A.  Williams 28  September,  1798. 

David  Stickney 23  October,  1798. 

Benjamin  Strother 31  October,  1798. 

D.  S.  Wynkoop 16  November,  1798. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

William  Amory 25  July,  1798. 

John  L.  Lewis 9  August,  1798. 

John  Maine 12  August,  1798. 

Henry  Caldwell 2  September,  1798. 

Anthony  Gale 2  September,  1798. 

Robert  Rankin 2  September,  1798. 

Josiah  Reddick 5  September,  1798. 

John  Darley 8  November,  1798. 

Newton  Keene 22  December,  1798. 

The  following  letter  from  Major  W.  W.  Burrows,  Commandant,  illus 
trates  the  condition  of  the  Corps  in  1798  : 

MARINE  CAMP,  NEAR  PHILADELPHIA, 

September  9,  1798. 
LIEUTENANT  JOHN  HALL,  Charleston  : 

DEAR  SIR, — I  hasten  to  answer  yours  of  the  I7th  ult.,  having  already  answered 
your  last  of  the  27th.  You  may  enlist  as  many  men  as  you  can  and  as  many  drum 
mers  and  fifers  as  possible.  I  do  not  care  what  country  the  drummers  and  fifers  are  of, 
but  you  must  be  careful  not  to  enlist  more  foreigners  than  as  one  to  three  natives.  You 
can  make  use  of  blacks  and  mulattoes  while  you  recruit,  but  you  cannot  enlist  them. 
If  you  can  get  any  smart  lads  you  can  have  them  taught  and  then  enter  them  as  drum 
mers  and  fifers,  but  we  do  not  attend  to  the  enlisting  of  them  by  companies,  as  they 
will  never  go,  only  by  detachments. 

Marines  will  be  wanted  very  shortly  at  Charleston,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  successful 
in  raising  your  men.  In  your  instructions  you  are  ordered  not  to  enlist  any  men  under 
5  feet  6  inches,  but  I  have  thought  proper  to  do  away  that  order,  as  it  is  not  so 
essential  to  have  Marines  of  that  size,  so  that  if  they  are  not  too  diminutive  you  may 
enlist  of  any  size.  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  hear  of  your  success,  and  you  must  know, 
from  the  affection  I  bore  your  father,  how  dear  you  are  to  me. 

Your  ob't  sv't, 

W.  W.  B., 

M.  C. 

No  commissions  are  issued  yet,  but  you  will  see  your  name  in  some  of  the  Philadel 
phia  papers  of  3d  or  4th  September,  1798. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  45 

The  first  ship  that  ever  got  to  sea  since  the  present  organization  of  the 
Navy  was  the  Ganges,  a  purchased  Indiaman.  This  vessel  was  armed 
and  equipped  as  a  twenty-four,  and  was  put  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Richard  Dale,  who  was  ordered  to  sail  on  the  2zd  of  May. 
On  the  I2th  of  June  it  was  determined  to  instruct  "  such  of  the  cruisers 
as  might  hereafter  go  to  sea,"  to  capture  all  French  cruisers  that  were 
hovering  on  the  coast  with  hostile  views  on  the  American  commerce. 
In  obedience  to  these  instructions  the  Constitution  captured  the  French 
privateer  schooner  Le  Croyable,  while  the  United  States  and  the  Dela 
ware  early  in  the  autumn  captured  the  privateers  Sans  Pareil  and  Jaloux. 
First  Lieutenant  John  Hall  served  on  board  the  United  States,  and  First 
Lieutenant  Philip  Edwards  was  attached  to  the  Delaware. 

1799. — On  the  gth  of  February,  the  Constitution,  Commodore 
Truxtun,  captured  the  French  frigate  Insurgente  after  a  close  contest  of 
an  hour.  The  French  vessel  lost  seventy  men,  killed  and  wounded, 
while  the  Constitution  had  only  three  men  wounded.  First  Lieutenant 
Bartholomew  Clinch  of  the  corps  was  attached  to  the  Constitution. 

GENERAL    ORDERS    TO    THE    OFFICERS    OF    THE    NAVY   AND    MARINES. 

The  President,  with  deep  affliction,  announces  to  the  Navy  and  to  the  Marines,  the 
death  of  our  beloved  fellow-citizen,  George  Washington,  Commander  of  our  armies, 
and  late  President  of  the  United  States,  but  rendered  more  illustrious  by  his  eminent 
virtues,  and  a  long  series  of  most  important  services,  than  by  the  honors  which  his 
grateful  country  delighted  to  confer  upon  him. 

Desirous  that  the  Navy  and  Marines  should  express,  in  common  with  every  other  de 
scription  of  American  citizens,  the  high  sense  which  all  feel  of  the  loss  our  country  has 
sustained  in  the  death  of  this  great  and  good  man,  the  President  directs  that  the  ves 
sels  of  the  Navy,  in  our  own  and  foreign  ports,  be  put  in  mourning  for  one  week,  by 
wearing  their  colors  half  mast  high ;  and  that  the  officers  of  the  Navy  and  of  Marines 
wear  crape  on  the  left  arm,  below  the  elbow,  for  six  months. 

BEN.  STODDART. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  20th  December,  1799.     ' 

1800. — In  the  close  and  hard-fought  action  between  the  Constitution 
and  the  French  vessel  La  Vengeance  on  the  ist  of  February,  the  detach 
ment  of  Marines  suffered  severely :  out  of  fourteen  men  killed  and 
twenty-five  wounded,  the  detachment  suffered  a  loss  exceeding  one- 
fourth.  This  engagement  lasted  five  hours  within  pistol-shot.  The 
Marines  were  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Clinch. 

Commodore  Talbot,  in  command  of  the  West  India  Squadron,  ascer 
tained  that  a  valuable  French  letter  of  marque  was  lying  in  Port  Platte, 
a  small  harbor  on  the  Spanish  side  of  the  island  of  St.  Domingo,  he 
therefore  determined  to  attempt  cutting  her  out.  An  American  sloop 
called  the  Sally  was  found  on  the  coast,  and  the  Commodore  accordingly 
threw  a  party  of  seamen  and  Marines  into  the  Sally,  giving  the  com 
mand  to  the  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Constitution,  Mr.  Hull,  with  Cap- 


46  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

tain  Daniel  Carmick  in  command  of  the  Marines.  The  Sally's  move 
ments  were  so  well  timed  as  to  permit  her  to  arrive  off  the  harbor's 
mouth  at  the  proper  hour.  The  Sandwich  was  lying  with  her  broadside 
bearing  on  the  approach,  and  there  was  a  battery  close  by  to  protect  her. 
Lieutenant  Hull  in  the  Sally  ran  the  Sandwich  aboard,  and  carried  her 
without  the  loss  of  a  man.  At  the  same  moment,  Captain  Carmick 
landed  with  the  Marines,  entered  the  battery,  and  spiked  the  guns.  In 
the  actions  between  the  Enterprise  and  the  Flambeau,  the  Experiment 
and  La  Diane,  the  detachments  of  Marines  shared  the  honors  and  losses 
on  those  occasions. 

The  short  and  irregular  struggle  with  France  ended  by  the  treaty  of 
peace  which  was  ratified  by  the  Senate  on  the  3d  of  February,  1801. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1801-1805.  War  with  Tripoli — The  Squadron  under  Commodore  Dale — Capture  of 
the  Tripoli  by  the  Enterprise — Commodore  Preble  assigned  to  the  Command  of  the 
Squadron  before  Tripoli — Loss  of  the  Philadelphia — Destruction  of  the  Philadelphia 
by  Decatur — Actions  before  Tripoli — The  Expedition  to  Derne — Assault  and  Capture 
of  the  City. 

As  early  as  1800,  the  Pacha  of  Tripoli,  Jussuf  Caramalli,  who  had 
deposed  his  brother  Hamet,  accused  the  American  government  of  having 
bribed  the  subordinates  of  Tunis  at  a  higher  price  than  it  had  bribed 
him.  He  therefore  demanded  of  the  President,  in  unequivocal  language, 
a  substantial  tribute,  and  informed  the  American  consul  that  he  would 
wait  six  months  for  a  present  in  money,  and  that  if  it  did  not  arrive 
within  that  time,  he  would  formally  declare  war  against  the  United 
States. 

No  response  having  been  made  to  this  demand,  the  flag-staff  of  the 
American  consulate  was  cut  down  on  the  i4th  of  May,  1801,  and  war 
was  proclaimed. 

A  squadron  was  fitted  out  and  rendezvoused  in  Hampton  Roads,  con 
sisting  of  the  President,  Captain  J.  Barren  ;  Philadelphia,  Captain  S. 
Barren ;  Essex,  Captain  Bainbridge ;  and  Enterprise,  Lieutenant-Com 
mandant  Sterrett.  Captain  Dale  was  ordered  to  the  command,  who 
selected  the  President  as  his  flag-ship.  The  following  officers  of  the 
Corps  were  attached  to  the  squadron :  President,  First  Lieutenant 
John  Heath  ;  Philadelphia,  Lieutenant  William  Osborne ;  Essex,  Lieu 
tenant  Gamble;  Enterprise,  Lieutenant  E.  S.  Lane.  The  squadron 
arrived  at  Gibraltar  on  the  ist  of  July.  On  the  ist  of  August  the  Enter 
prise,  while  running  for  Malta,  encountered  the  polacre-rigged  ship 
Tripoli,  of  fourteen  guns,  and  after  an  action  of  three  hours,  within 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  47 

pistol-shot,  the  Tripolitan  surrendered,  having  suffered  a  loss  of  fifty 
killed  and  wounded. 

1803. — The  war  was  carried  on,  in  a  desultory  way,  with  success 
during  1802,  by  the  squadron  under  Commodore  Morris,  but  it  was  not 
until  1803,  when  Commodore  Morris  was  recalled,  that  the  government 
realized  the  necessity  of  sending  out  a  formidable  squadron.  Commodore 
Preble  was  therefore  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  squadron,  consist 
ing  of  the  following  ships  :  The  Constitution,  Philadelphia,  Argus,  Siren, 
Nautilus,  Vixen,  and  Enterprise. 

On  the  3ist  of  October,  the  Philadelphia,  while  near  Tripoli,  dis 
covered  a  sail  in-shore  and  to  windward,  standing  for  Tripoli.  Sail  was 
made  to  cut  her  off.  The  Philadelphia,  however,  unfortunately  struck  a 
reef  about  the  distance  of  a  league  from  the  shore.  The  Tripolitan 
vessel  doubled  the  edge  of  the  shoal  and  reached  Tripoli  in  safety.  The 
firing  had  brought  out  nine  gunboats,  which  now  appeared  turning  to 
windward.  Every  endeavor  was  made  to  lighten  the  ship,  but  without 
avail,  as  the  vessel  remained  perfectly  immovable.  After  a  consultation 
with  his  officers,  Captain  Bainbridge  lowered  his  colors.  Before  this 
was  done,  however,  the  magazine  was  drowned,  and  holes  were  bo*ed  in 
the  ship's  bottom.  Everything  was  taken  from  the  officers  and  men, 
many  of  them  being  stripped  half  naked.  At  ten  o'clock  at  night  the 
prisoners  were  landed  and  conducted  to  the  presence  of  the  pacha.  The 
entire  crew  of  the  Philadelphia,  including  officers  and  Marines,  numbered 
three  hundred  and  fifteen.  The  ship  was  finally  partially  repaired,  her 
guns  remounted,  and  she  was  moored  off  the  town  near  the  castle  of  the 
Pacha. 

1804. — The  subsequent  fate  of  the  Philadelphia  is  familiar  to  all. 
Contemporaneous  history  relates  in  what  manner,  on  the  i6th  of  Feb 
ruary,  the  gallant  Decatur  with  a  few  chosen  companions,  in  the  ketch 
Intrepid,  with  the  harbor  filled  with  light  cruisers,  gunboats,  and  galleys, 
and  surrounded  by  forts  and  batteries  of  the  enemy,  assaulted  and  burned 
the  Philadelphia.  The  following  Marines  volunteered  on  this  occasion  : 
Sergeant  Solomon  Wren,  Corporal  Duncan  Mansfield,  Privates  James 
Noble,  John  Quinn,  Isaac  Campfield,  Reuben  O'Brian,  William  Pepper, 
and  J.  Wolsfrandoff. 

When  the  commander  of  the  American  forces  had  assembled  his  force 
before  Tripoli,  on  the  25th  of  July,  it  consisted  of  the  Constitution, 
Siren,  Argus,  Scourge,  Vixen,  Nautilus,  Enterprise,  two  bomb-vessels, 
and  six  gunboats.  The  American  force  numbered  one  thousand  seamen 
and  Marines,  exclusive  of  the  officers,  while  the  enemy  numbered  twenty- 
five  thousand. 

At  half-past  one,  on  the  3d  of  August,  the  bombardment  of  Tripoli 
began.  In  the  desperate  hand-to-hand  fighting  which  occurred  between 
our  small  gunboats  and  those  of  the  enemy,  one  notable  instance  deserves 


'  48  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

to  be  mentioned.  Decatur  having  boarded  one  of  the  enemy's  gunboats, 
encountered  the  captain  of  the  Tripolitan  vessel.  While  the  two  leaders 
were  engaged  in  a  desperate  struggle,  an  enemy  raised  his  sword  to  cleave 
the  skull  of  Mr.  Decatur  while  he  was  occupied  by  his  antagonist.  A 
Marine  of  the  Enterprise  interposed  an  arm  to  save  him.  The  blow  was 
intercepted,  but  the  limb  was  severed  to  a  bit  of  skin. 

Lieutenant  Trippe,  of  the  Vixen,  in  gunboat  No.  6,  boarded  his  enemy 
concealed  by  the  smoke.  The  boats,  however,  separated  by  the  shock 
of  collision,  leaving  Lieutenant  Trippe,  Mr.  J.  D.  Henley,  and  nine 
Marines  on  board  the  Tripolitan.  Here,  also,  the  commanders  singled 
each  other  out,  and  a  severe  personal  combat  occurred  while  the  work 
of  death  was  going  on  around  them.  The  Tripolitan  officer,  however, 
was  killed,  and  the  boat  surrendered.  While  Mr.  Trippe  was  hard 
pressed  by  his  antagonist,  a  Turk  aimed  a  blow  at  him  from  behind ;  but 
just  before  the  latter  struck,  Sergeant  Meredith,  of  the  Marines,  passed 
a  bayonet  through  his  body. 

The  blockade  of  Tripoli  was  maintained  by  different  vessels  during 
1804-5. 

It  has  been  related  that  Jussuf  Caramelli,  the  reigning  pacha,  was  a 
usurper,  having  deposed  his  elder  brother  Hamet.  The  latter  had  escaped 
from  the  regency,  and,  after  passing  a  wandering  life,  he  had  taken  refuge 
among  the  Mamelukes  of  Egypt.  It  had  often  been  suggested  that  the 
deposed  prince  might  be  made  useful  in  carrying  on  the  war  against  the 
usurper.  Mr.  Eaton,  the  consul  at  Tunis,  who  had  been  a  captain  in 
the  army,  came  to  America  and  prevailed  upon  the  government  to  sup 
port  his  views.  Commodore  Barren,  therefore,  sent  the  Argus,  with 
General  Eaton  to  Alexandria,  where  he  arrived  on  the  26th  of  November. 
On  the  29th  General  Eaton,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  O'Bannon  of 
the  Marines,  proceeded  to  Cairo.  The  Viceroy  of  Egypt  granted  per 
mission  for  the  Prince  of  Tripoli  to  pass  out  of  the  country  unmolested. 

1805. — The  Marines  in  the  expedition  were  from  the  Argus,  and  con 
sisted  of  Lieutenant  O'Bannon,  one  sergeant,  and  six  privates,  who  were 
relied  upon  to  preserve  discipline,  and  by  their  example  animate  the 
hearts  of  the  mercenaries  employed.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Smith,  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  dated  at  Alexandria,  February  13,  1805,  General  Eaton  wrote: 
"  Those  provinces  in  our  possession  will  cut  off  from  the  enemy  and  turn 
into  our  own  channel  a  source  of  provisions,  and  will  open  a  free  inter 
course  with  the  interior  of  the  country.  I  have  requested  of  the  commo 
dore  for  this  purpose  one  hundred  stand  of  arms,  with  cartridges  and  two 
field-pieces,  with  trains  and  ammunition  ;  and  also  a  detachment  of  one 
hundred  Marines,  if  necessary,  to  lead  a  coup  de  main" 

From  General  Eaton's  journal  it  appears  that  on  Sunday,  March  3, 
1805,  the  force  under  his  command  left  Alexandria  on  its  march  to  Derne, 
taking  the  route  across  the  Desert  of  Barca.  Included  in  the  force  were 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  49 

but  nine  Americans,  Lieutentant  O'Bannon,  Mr.  Peck,  one  sergeant,  and 
six  privates  of  the  Marine  Corps.  Including  the  footmen  and  camel- 
drivers,  the  whole  force  numbered  about  four  hundred.  This  caravan 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  seven  camels  and  a  few  asses.  After 
marching  two  hundred  miles,  eighty  mounted  warriors  joined  the  pacha. 
Provisions  had  been  reduced  to  hard  bread  and  rice.  From  Alexandria  to 
that  point  there  was  not  a  living  stream  or  rivulet  or  spring  of  water.  A  few 
days  later,  forty-seven  tents  of  Arabs  joined  them,  with  their  families  and 
movables.  In  this  detachment  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors  on 
foot.  On  March  30,  General  Eaton  wrote :  "  From  Alexandria  to  this 
place,  we  have  experienced  continual  altercations,  contentions,  and  delays 
among  the  Arabs.  They  have  no  sense  of  patriotism,  truth,  or  honor ; 
and  no  attachment  where  they  have  no  prospect  of  gain,  except  to  their 
religion,  to  which  they  are  enthusiasts.  Poverty  makes  them  thieves, 
and  practice  renders  them  adroit  in  stealing." 

April  9  he  wrote :  "Advanced  ten  miles.  Good  water.  In  the  cis 
tern  were  two  dead  men ;  probably  murdered  by  Arabs.  Obliged  to 
drink  the  water,  however."  On  the  following  day  a  courier  arrived  from 
Derne.  April  14,  at  4  o'clock  P.M.,  they  reached  Bonda.  But  their 
astonishment  was  great  to  find  at  this  port  "not  the  foot-trace  of  a  human 
being,  nor  a  drop  of  water."  The  next  morning  the  Argus,  Captain 
Hull,  arrived,  and  on  the  lyth  the  sloop  Hornet  arrived  with  provisions. 
At  this  point  the  remainder  of  the  detachment  of  Marines  now  landed 
and  joined  Lieutenant  O'Bannon.  On  the  i8th  the  march  was  resumed. 
On  the  24th  they  marched  fifteen  miles  over  mountainous  and  broken 
ground,  covered  with  herbage  and  beautiful  red  cedars,  "  the  first  resem 
blance  of  a  forest  tree,"  wrote  General  Eaton,  "we  have  seen  during  a 
march  of  nearly  six  hundred  miles." 

Arriving  before  Derne,  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  terms  of  amity 
were  offered  the  Bey,  on  condition  of  allegiance  and  fidelity.  The  flag  of 
truce  was  sent  back  with  this  laconic  answer,  "  My  head  or  yours."  On 
the  ayth  the  assault,  so  novel  for  Americans  to  be  engaged  in,  in  the 
other  hemisphere,  was  commenced.  The  Hornet,  Lieutenant  Com 
mandant  Evans,  having  run  close  in,  and  anchored  with  springs  on  her 
cables,  within  pistol-shot  of  a  battery  of  eight  guns,  opened  her  fire.  The 
Nautilus  lay  at  a  little  distance  to  the  eastward,  and  the  Argus  still  far 
ther  in  the  same  direction,  the  two  latter  firing  on  the  town  and  battery. 
In  about  an  hour  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  work,  when  all  the 
vessels  directed  their  guns  at  the  beach,  to  clear  the  way  for  the  advance 
of  the  party  on  shore.  The  enemy  made  an  irregular  but  spirited  de 
fence,  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  as  the  assailants  advanced, 
from  behind  houses  and  walls.  At  half-past  three,  however,  Lieutenant 
O'Bannon  and  Mr.  Mann,  midshipman,  stormed  the  principal  work, 
hauling  down  the  Tripolitan  ensign,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history 


5<D  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

of  the  country,  hoisting  that  of  the  republic  on  a  fortress  of  the  Old  World. 
The  enemy  were  driven  out  of  the  work  with  so  much  precipitation  that 
he  left  his  guns  loaded  and  even  primed.  The  guns  were  immediately 
turned  upon  the  town,  and  Hamet  Caramelli,  having  made  a  lodgement 
on  the  other  side,  so  as  to  bring  the  enemy  between  two  fires,  the  place 
submitted. 

In  this  affair  only  fourteen  of  the  assailants  were  killed  and  wounded, 
General  Eaton  being  among  the  latter.  A  detachment,  consisting  of  the 
Marines  from  the  Argus,  twenty-four  cannoniers,  and  twenty-six  Greeks, 
including  their  proper  officers,  were  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Lieutenant  O'Bannon.  It  was  with  this  force  that  the  brave  O'Bannon 
passed  through  a  shower  of  musketry  from  the  walls  of  the  houses,  took 
possession  of  the  battery,  planted  the  American  flag  upon  its  ramparts, 
and  turned  its  guns  upon  the  enemy.  The  attack  was  made  by  about 
twelve  hundred  men,  while  the  place  was  supposed  to  be  defended  by 
three  or  four  thousand.  In  his  official  report  of  the  affair,  General  Eaton 
said,  "The  details  I  have  given  of  Mr.  O'Bannon's  conduct  need  no 
encomium,  and  it  is  believed  the  disposition  of  our  government  to  en 
courage  merit  will  be  extended  to  this  intrepid,  judicious,  and  enter 
prising  officer."  Lieutenant  O'Bannon  resigned  two  years  afterwards, 
without  having  ever  received  a  brevet  for  his  gallant  conduct. 

A  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  on  the  3d  of  June,  1805,  and  the  war 
with  Tripoli  terminated  after  an  existence  of  four  years. 

The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  the  squadron,  in 
the  several  attacks  on  the  city  and  harbor  of  Tripoli  in  July,  August,  and 
September,  1804: 

Captain  John  Hall,  Lieutenant  Robert  Greenleaf,  Lieutenant  John 
Johnson.  The  casualties  before  Tripoli  were:  killed,  Sergeant  John 
Meredith,  Private  Nathaniel  Holmes. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

1809-13 — Increase  of  the  Corps — The  War  of  1812 — President  and  Belvidere — The 
Constitution  and  Guerriere — United  States  and  Macedonian — Wasp  and  Frolic — 
Constitution  and  Java — Hornet  and  Peacock — The  Essex — Lieutenant  Gamble — 
Attack  on  the  Batteries  of  Craney  Island — Actions  on  the  Lakes. 

1809. — Early  in  1809,  the  Corps  was  augmented  by  an  addition  of 
nearly  seven  hundred  men,  which  probably  put  this  important  branch  of 
the  Navy  on  a  footing  equal  to  the  rest  of  the  service,  as  it  then  existed  j 
the  entire  Corps  containing  about  thirteen  hundred  men  when  full. 

1812. — Owing  to  grievances  that  had  long  been  drawing  to  a  head, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  5 1 

Congress  formally  declared  war  against  Great  Britain  on  the   i8th  of 
June,  1812. 

On  the  23d  of  June,  in  the  engagement  between  the  frigate  President 
and  the  British  frigate  Belvidere,  Lieutenant  Heath  of  the  Marines  was 
severely  wounded. 

On  the  ipth  of  August,  at  2  P.M.,  the  Constitution,  Captain  Hull,  en 
countered  the  British  frigate  Guerriere.  After  a  desperate  action  of  two 
hours,  during  which  time  both  vessels  were  within  pistol-shot,  great 
damage  was  done  on  both  sides.  Finally  the  vessels  touched  and  both 
parties  prepared  to  board.  Mr.  Aylwyn,  the  master,  and  Mr.  Bush,  the 
Lieutenant  of  Marines,  were  upon  the  taffrail  of  the  Constitution,  to  be 
ready  to  spring.  Mr.  Morris,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  shot  through  the 
body,  Mr.  Aylwyn  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and  Mr.  Bush  fell  by  a 
bullet  through  the  head.  At  7  P.M.  the  Guerriere  surrendered.  At  3  P.M. 
on  the  next  day  the  Guerriere  blew  up.  The  British  ship  had  seventy- 
nine  killed  and  wounded,  while  the  loss  of  the  Constitution  amounted  to 
seven  killed  and  seven  wounded,  among  which  were  First  Lieutenant 
Bush  killed,  and  private  Francis  Mullin  wounded.  After  the  fall  of 
Lieutenant  Bush,  Lieutenant  Contee  became  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  detachment,  and  was  commended  for  his  bravery.  Captain  Hull  in 
his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  says  of  Lieutenant  Bush  :  "In 
him  our  country  has  lost  a  valuable  and  brave  officer. ' ' 

This  action  was  the  first  serious  conflict  of  the  war,  and  was  charac 
terized  by  features  which,  though  novel  at  the  time,  became  identified 
with  nearly  all  the  subsequent  engagements  of  the  contest,  showing  that 
they  were  intimately  connected  with  the  discipline  and  system  of  the  Navy. 

In  the  assault  and  capture  of  the  British  vessels  Detroit  and  Caledonia, 
on  the  8th  of  October,  on  Lake  Ontario,  by  Lieutenant  Elliott  of  the 
Navy,  the  following  officers  commanded  the  Marines :  First  Lieutenant 
William  H.  Truman,  Second  Lieutenant  John  Contee. 

In  the  action  between  the  United  States  and  the  Macedonian,  on  Oc 
tober  25,  in  latitude  29°  north,  longtitude  29°  30'  west,  which  resulted 
in  the  surrender  of  the  latter,  the  Marines  of  the  United  States  were 
commended  for  good  conduct  and  utmost  steadiness  under  the  example 
of  their  gallant  commanders,  Lieutenants  William  Anderson  and  J.  L. 
Edwards,  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire  passing  a  short  distance  above 
their  heads.  The  Marines'  loss  in  this  action  were :  killed,  Privates 
Michael  O'Donnell  and  John  Roberts;  wounded,  mortally,  Private 
John  Laton. 

The  action  between  the  Wasp  and  the  British  sloop  Frolic  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  the  latter  after  a  combat  of  forty-three  minutes.  The  loss 
on  board  the  Frolic  amounted  to  nearly  one  hundred,  while  the  Ameri 
can  vessel  had  five  men  killed  and  five  wounded,  two  of  the  latter  being 
Marines. 

4 


5  2  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

On  the  26th  of  December  the  Constitution,  Commodore  Bainbridge, 
encountered  the  British  frigate  Java,  and  after  a  combat  which  lasted 
two  hours  the  Java  surrendered.  The  Java  was  literally  picked  to 
pieces  by  shot,  spar  following  spar,  until  she  had  not  one  left.  Her  hull 
was  also  greatly  injured,  and  her  loss  in  men  was  twenty-two  killed  and 
one  hundred  and  two  wounded.  Of  the  Constitution's  crew  nine  were 
killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded,  the  Marines,  as  usual,  suffering  greatly. 
Captain  Archibald  Henderson,  Lieutenants  W.  H.  Truman  and  John 
Contee,  were  the  officers  of  the  corps  attached  to  the  Constitution. 

On  the  24th  of  February  the  Hornet,  Captain  Lawrence,  engaged 
the  Peacock,  and  in  thirty  minutes  from  the  time  the  first  shot  was  fired 
the  British  vessel  surrendered.  In  this  short  encounter,  which  resulted 
in  the  sinking  of  the  Peacock,  this  vessel  had  her  captain  and  four  men 
killed,  and  thirty-three  wounded.  The  detachment  of  Marines  on 
board  the  Hornet  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Brownlow. 

1813. — The  Essex,  Captain  Porter,  reached  the  Marquesas  at  the 
close  of  October,  and  in  the  early  part  of  December  she  was  again 
ready  for  sea.  Shortly  after,  a  fort  was  constructed  on  a  small  conical 
hill,  near  the  water,  where  the  Seringapatam,  Sir  Andrew  Hammond, 
and  Greenwich  were  warped  close  in  and  moored  under  its  guns.  The 
command  of  this  fort  was  given  to  Lieutenant  John  M.  Gamble,  of  the 
Marines,  a  spirited  and  intelligent  young  officer,  who  also  had  command 
of  the  three  prizes  above  named.  The  Essex  had  no  sooner  disappeared 
from  Nooaheevah  than  the  savages  began  to  pilfer,  and  to  betray  a 
turbulent  disposition.  Lieutenant  Gamble  was  compelled  to  land  a 
detachment,  in  order  to  bring  the  natives  to  terms  by  a  show  of  force. 
Fortunately  this  object  was  effected  without  firing  a  musket. 

On  the  1 2th  of  April,  Mr.  Gamble  began  to  rig  the  Seringapatam  and 
the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  with  the  intention  of  quitting  the  islands, 
the  long  absence  of  the  Essex  inducing  him  to  despair  of  her  return. 
Symptoms  of  a  mutiny  showed  themselves,  and  he  had  all  the  arms  and 
ammunition  carried  on  board  the  Greenwich,  in  which  vessel  he  lived. 
The  mutineers,  however,  took  the  Seringapatam  on  the  yth  of  May. 
Mr.  Gamble  was  badly  wounded  in  the  foot  by  a  pistol  ball  during  the 
fight.  He  made  every  exertion  to  get  to  sea  with  the  Sir  Andrew  Ham 
mond,  but  on  the  Qth  the  natives  made  an  attack,  and  one  officer  and 
three  men  were  killed,  and  one  other  was  severely  wounded.  The  situ 
ation  of  those  remaining  became  exceedingly  critical,  the  whole  party 
consisting  of  only  eight  individuals,  of  whom  two  were  badly  wounded, 
one  was  crippled,  and  another  was  just  recovering  from  a  serious  attack 
of  scurvy.  In  fact,  there  were  but  four  men  on  board  the  Sir  Andrew 
Hammond  fit  for  duty.  With  this  small  force  the  vessel  was  put  to  sea, 
and,  without  a  chart,  Lieutenant  Gamble  made  his  way  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  which  he  reached  in  seventeen  days,  only,  however,  to  fall  into 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  5  3 

the  hands  of  the  enemy.  He  and  his  crew  were  carried  on  board 
the  Cherub,  where  they  learned  of  the  fate  of  the  Essex.  He  was 
carried  to  Rio  Janeiro,  whence,  in  the  following  August,  he  was  allowed 
to  return  to  New  York.  His  services  won  the  highest  praises  of  his 
superiors. 

Subsequently,  Commodore  Porter  wrote  as  follows  to  Lieutenant 
Gamble:  ''Allow  me  to  return  to  you  my  thanks  for  your  handsome 
conduct  in  bringing  the  Seringapatam  to  action,  which  greatly  facilitated 
her  capture,  while  it  prevented  the  possibility  of  her  escape.  Be  assured, 
sir,  I  shall  make  a  suitable  representation  of  the  affair  to  the  Hon. 
Secretary  of  the  Navy." 

Accordingly,  Commodore  Porter  sent  the  following  communication  to 
the  department :  "  Captain  Gamble  at  all  times  greatly  distinguished 
himself  by  his  activity  in  every  enterprise  engaged  in  by  the  force  under 
my  command,  and  in  many  critical  encounters  by  the  natives  of  Madi 
son's  Island  rendered  essential  services,  and  at  all  times  distinguished 
himself  by  his  coolness  and  bravery.  I  therefore  do,  with  pleasure, 
recommend  him  to  the  department  as  an  officer  deserving  of  its  patron 
age.  I  now  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of  assuring  you  that  no 
Marine  officer  in  the  service  ever  had  such  strong  claims  as  Captain 
Gamble,  and  that  none  have  been  placed  in  such  conspicuous  and  critical 
situations,  and  that  none  could  have  extricated  themselves  from  them 
more  to  their  honor." 

In  the  action  between  the  British  frigate  Shannon  and  the  American 
frigate  Chesapeake,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  latter  vessel, 
Lieutenant  Broom  was  mortally  wounded.  Of  his  detachment  eleven 
were  killed  and  twenty  wounded. 

On  the  1 4th  of  Tune  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  fourteen 
sail,  came  into  Hampton  Roads,  and  an  attack  was  expected.  On  the 
2oth  the  enemy's  ships  weighed,  and  ascended  the  tide  to  the  mouth  of 
the  James  River,  where,  in  the  afternoon,  they  were  seen  making  prepara 
tions  to  send  up  a  large  force  in  boats.  As  so  much  depended  on  the  de 
fence  of  the  batteries  of  Craney  Island,  Captain  Cassin,  who  commanded 
the  naval  force  at  Norfolk,  sent  three  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Constitu 
tion,  Messrs.  Neall,  Shubrick,  and  Sanders,  on  shore  with  one  hundred 
seamen  and  fifty  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Breckin- 
ridge.  The  enemy,  on  the  22d,  attempted  to  land  in  front  of  Craney 
Island  with  a  large  force  in  barges.  Fire  was  opened  on  the  enemy  with 
great  coolness  and  precision,  which  resulted  in  the  sinking  of  three  of 
the  barges.  Forty  prisoners  were  taken,  and  the  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  must  have  been  great,  as  Captain  Cassin  described  the  fire 
from  the  battery  to  have  been  precise.  The  officers,  seamen,  and 
Marines  of  the  Constitution  gained  great  credit  for  their  steadiness, 
discipline,  and  spirit. 


54  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  in  the  action  between  the  Enterprise  and 
the  Boxer,  five  Marines  of  the  former  were  wounded. 

In  the  attack  on  Fort  George  the  Marines  of  the  squadron  were  em 
bodied  with  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Macomb.  In  this  handsome  affair 
the  commanding  general  and  the  commanding  naval  officer  spoke  in  the 
highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  the  seamen  and  Marines.  This  occupa 
tion  of  Fort  George  brought  with  it  an  evacuation  by  the  British  of  the 
whole  Niagara  frontier.  In  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie  the  following  officers 
and  non-commissioned  officers  served  in  the  vessels  named  : 

Lawrence. — Lieutenant  John  Brooks,  Sergeant  James  Tull,  Sergeant 
W.  S.  Johnson,  Corporal  Philip  Starpley. 

Caledonia. — Sergeant  Joseph  Beckay,  Sergeant  James  Artis. 

Scorpion. — Corporal  Joseph  Berry. 

Ariel. — Lieutenant  Robert  Anderson. 

Trippe. — Lieutenant  James  Blair,  Corporal  John  Brown. 

Tigress. — Corporal  William  Webster. 

Niagara. — Captain  H.  B.  Brevoort,  Lieutenant  John  Heddleson, 
Lieutenant  John  R.  Edwards,  Sergeant  Jonathan  Curtis,  Sergeant  San- 
ford  A.  Mason. 

The  following  are  the  casualties  in  the  squadron  : 

Lawrence. — Killed:  Lieutenant  John  Brooks,  Corporal  Philip  Starpley, 
Privates  Jesse  Harland  and  Abner  Williams.  Wounded  :  Privates  James 
Bird,  William  Burnet,  William  Baggs,  David  Christie,  Henry  Vanpool. 

Niagara. — Wounded  :  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Edwards,  Sergeant  Mason, 
Corporal  Scott,  Privates  Joshua  Traphill,  Thomas  Miller,  John  Rumas, 
George  McManomy,  George  Schofield,  Samuel  Cochran. 

In  the  action  on  Lake  Champlain  with  the  British  fleet  on  the  nth  of 
September,  the  following  casualties  occurred  in  the  Corps : 

Saratoga. — Killed:  Private  James  Carlisle.  Wounded:  Privates  Ben 
jamin  Jackson,  Jesse  Vanhorn,  Joseph  Ketter,  and  Samuel  Pearson. 

Eagle. — Killed :  Privates  John  Wallace,  Joseph  Heaton,  and  Robert 
Stratton.  Wounded :  Privates  John  McKinney,  Matthew  Scriver, 
George  Mannering,  Henry  Jones,  and  John  McCarty. 

Ticonderoga. — Killed:  Privates  Deodrick  Think  and  John  Sharp. 
Wounded  :  Private  John  Condon. 

Borer. — Killed  :  Private  James  Day.  Wounded  :  Corporal  Ebenezer 
Cobb. 

During  the  operations  on  the  lakes,  the  army  co-operating  with  the 
Navy,  a  detachment  of  Marines  under  Captain  Samuel  E.  Watson,  served 
with  great  efficiencey  with  the  troops  under  Colonel  Scott. 

A  careful  resume  of  the  service  on  the  lakes  may  be  found  in  Cooper's 
"Naval  History,"  who  states  that '"in  thislinland  contest,  while  the 
enemy  had  been  active,  bold,  and  full  of  resources,  impartial  judges 
must  award  the  palm  to  the  Americans." 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  5  5 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1814-15 — The  War  of  1812  Continued — The  Chesapeake  Flotilla  under  Captain  Barney 
— The  Loss  of  the  Adams  in  the  Penobscot — The  Advance  upon  Washington — The 
Battle  of  Bladensburg — Capture  of  the  City  of  Washington — Unsuccessful  attack  by 
the  British  on  Baltimore — Battle  of  New  Orleans — Capture  of  the  Cyane  and  Levant 
by  the  Constitution — The  President  and  Endymion — Hornet  and  Penguin. 

THE  government  having  equipped  a  large  flotilla  to  protect  the  waters 
of  the  Chesapeake,  the  command  was  given  to  Captain  Joshua  Barney, 
the  officer  who  had  so  much  distinguished  himself  by  the  capture  of  the 
Monk  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  On  the  ist  of  June  this  officer 
left  the  Patuxent  with  the  Scorpion,  two  gunboats,  and  several  large 
barges,  in  chase  of  two  schooners.  He  was  closing  fast  by  means  of 
sweeps,  when  a  large  two-decker  was  discovered  to  the  southward,  neces 
sitating  the  retreat  of  our  flotilla  up  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  St.  Leonard's 
Creek.  Captain  Barney  repulsed  three  distinct  attacks  of  the  enemy  on 
the  8th,  Qth  and  nth  of  June,  the  last  repulse  being  very  severe,  the 
English  suffering  materially.  Some  small  works  were  now  thrown  up  on 
the  shore  to  protect  the  American  flotilla,  and  the  blockade  by  the  British 
continued.  In  the  mean  time,  Captain  Miller,  of  the  Marine  Corps,  joined 
the  flotilla  with  a  strong  detachment  of  Marines,  and  a  considerable  force 
of  militia  was  collected  under  Colonel  Wadsworth.  The  enemy  was  also 
reinforced.  On  the  26th  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  united  force  of  the 
Americans  to  raise  the  blockade.  The  cannonade  lasted  two  hours.  In 
this  affair  the  flotilla  lost  thirteen  men  in  killed  and  wounded ;  but  it 
effectually  raised  the  blockade  and  induced  the  enemy  to  be  more  cautious. 

On  the  i yth  of  August,  in  very  thick  weather,  the  Adams  ran  ashore 
on  the  Isle  of  Haute,  but  was  got  off  by  lightening.  Captain  Morris 
succeeded  in  getting  her  into  the  Penobscot,  in  Maine,  as  high  up  as 
Hampden,  which  is  several  miles  above  Castine. 

While  the  Adams  lay  ready  to  be  hove  out,  with  nothing  in  her,  a 
strong  expedition  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  troops  and  vessels  of  war, 
entered  the  river  and  ascended  as  high  as  Hampden.  A  small  force  of 
militia  was  assembled,  and  a  battery  was  mounted  with  the  guns  of  the 
ship  in  order  to  protect  her;  but  the  irregular  troops  giving  way  and 
leaving  the  seamen  and  Marines  exposed  in  the  rear,  nothing  remained 
but  to  set  the  vessel  on  fire  and  to  make  a  retreat.  After  a  fatiguing  march 
of  two  hundred  miles  the  Marines  under  Captain  Samuel  E.  Watson 
reached  Portland,  where  they  were  ordered  to  report.  It  is  a  fact  worthy 
of  record  that,  although  the  force  of  the  ship  was  broken  up  into  small 


56  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

detachments,  with  orders  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  Portland,  there 
were  no  stragglers,  and  every  squad  or  detachment  reported  intact. 

On  the  1 6th  of  August  the  enemy  in  the  Chesapeake  commenced  that 
series  of  movements,  which  terminated  in  his  advance  upon  Washington. 
Captain  Barney  having  received  intelligence  that  the  British  were  coming 
up  the  Patuxent  in  force,  sent  an  express  to  the  Navy  Department  for 
instructions.  The  answer  was  to  land  the  men  and  join  the  army  that 
was  hurriedly  assembling  for  defence  of  the  coast  under  General  Winder, 
and,  if  pressed,  to  burn  the  flotilla. 

On  the  2ist  the  news  was  received  that  the  enemy  had  landed  a  force 
of  four  or  five  thousand  men  at  Benedict,  and  that  he  was  marching  in 
the  direction  of  the  Capitol.  Captain  Barney  immediately  landed  four 
hundred  men,  leaving  the  vessels  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Frazier,  with 
orders  to  set  fire  to  them  if  attacked,  and  to  join  the  main  body  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible.  The  next  day  this  order  was  executed,  a  strong 
detachment  of  the  enemy's  seamen  and  Marines  approaching  the  flotilla 
to  attack  it. 

On  the  22d,  Captain  Barney  joined  an  assemblage  of  armed  citizens 
that  was  called  an  army  at  the  wood-yard.  The  next  day  he  marched 
into  Washington  and  took  up  his  quarters  at  the  Marine  Barracks. 

After  a  good  deal  of  uncertainty  concerning  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  it  was  ascertained  he  was  marching  directly  on  Washington,  and 
that  it  was  intended  to  fight  him  at  Bladensburg.  The  Marines  and 
flotilla-men  left  the  yard  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  ;  they  arrived  on 
the  battle-ground,  and  were  immediately  formed  about  a  mile  to  the 
west  of  Bladensburg,  holding  the  centre  of  General  Winder's  posi 
tion.  The  actual  force  of  General  Winder  amounted  to  three  thou 
sand,  of  whom  fourteen  hundred  were  regulars,  including  the  Marines 
and  flotilla-men.  The  force  of  the  enemy  numbered  seven  thousand, 
composed  of  the  elite  of  his  forces  in  America,  as  follows  :  Eighty-fifth 
Foot,  Fourth  and  Forty-fourth  Regiments,  Twenty-first  Fusileers,  two 
battalions  of  Royal  Marines,  two  hundred  seamen,  and  a  detachment 
of  guns  and  rockets  with  a  detachment  of  marine  artillery.  At  11.30 
A.M.,  after  a  short  skirmish,  when  the  enemy  suffered  severely  in 
crossing  abridge,  the  militia  fell  back,  and  the  British  columns  appeared, 
following  the  line  of  the  public  road.  Captain  Barney  took  command 
of  the  artillery  in  person,  while  Captain  Miller,  of  the  Marines,  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  remainder  of  the  two  detachments,  who 
were  armed  as  infantry.  The  Marines  no\v  formed  in  line  On  the  right 
of  the  artillery,  while  the  seamen  were  drawn  up  a  little  in  the  rear  and 
on  the  right  flank  of  the  Marines,  that  permitted  them  to  fire  over  the 
heads  of  the  latter.  Although  the  troops  that  were  falling  back  did  not 
halt,  Captain  Barney  held  his  position ;  and  as  soon  as  the  enemy  began 
to  throw  rockets,  he  opened  upon  him  with  a  heavy  and  sharp  discharge 


History  of  tJic  United  States  Marine  Corps.  5  7 

of  round  shot  and  grape.  The  column  of  the  enemy  was  staggered,  and 
it  immediately  gave  ground.  A  second  attempt  to  advance  was  repulsed 
in  the  same  manner,  when  the  enemy,  who,  as  yet,  had  been  able  to 
overcome  resistance  by  advancing  steadily  in  column,  was  obliged  to 
make  an  oblique  movement  to  his  left  into  some  open  fields,  and  to 
deploy  forward.  Here  he  threw  out  a  brigade  of  light  troops,  consist 
ing  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment,  the  light  companies  of  the  Fourth  and 
Forty-fourth,  and  the  First  Battalion  of  Marines,  in  open  order,  and 
advanced  in  beautiful  style  upon  the  command  of  Captain  Barney,  five 
hundred  strong,  while  the  head  of  a  strong  column  was  seen  in  reserve 
in  a  copse  in  its  rear.  Captain  Miller,  with  the  Marines  and  that  por 
tion  of  the  seamen  who  acted  as  infantry,  met  the  charge  in  the  most 
steady  and  gallant  manner,  and  after  a  short  conflict  drove  the  British 
light  troops  back  upon  their  supporting  column.  The  Marines  and  sea 
men  manifested  the  utmost  steadiness,  and  there  can  be  no  question,  had 
they  been  properly  supported,  the  Americans  would  have  gained  the  day. 
No  troops,  however,  remained  in  line  except  those  under  Captain  Barney 
and  Captain  Miller.  Having  been  so  roughly  handled,  the  enemy  made 
no  new  attempt  to  advance  directly  in  front  of  the  Marines  and  seamen,, 
but,  after  forcing  the  troops  on  their  right  from  the  field  by  a  demon 
stration  in  that  direction,  they  prepared  to  turn  the  rear  of  Captain 
Barney.  While  these  movements  were  going  on  in  front  and  on  the 
right  of  the  Americans,  a  party  of  light  troops  had  been  thrown  out  on 
the  enemy's  right,  and  the  militia  having  abandoned  the  ground,  they 
were  also  beginning  to  close  upon  the  Americans  that  stood.  By  this 
time  Captain  Barney,  Captain  Miller,  and  several  other  officers  were 
wounded,  and  victory  being  impossible  against  odds  so  great,  an  order 
was  given  to  retreat.  The  defence  had  been  too  obstinate  to  admit  of 
carrying  off  the  guns,  amounting  to  ten  pieces,  which  were  necessarily 
abandoned.  All  of  the  men  retired  with  the  exception  of  the  badly 
wounded ;  among  the  latter,  however,  were  Captain  Barney  and  Captain 
Miller,  who  both  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands.  The  loss  of  the  enemy 
in  front  of  the  Marines  and  seamen  amounted  to  one  captain,  two  lieu 
tenants,  five  sergeants,  and  fifty-six  men  killed  ;  two  lieutenant-colonels, 
one  major,  one  captain,  fourteen  lieutenants,  two  ensigns,  ten  sergeants, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  men  wounded.  Of  the  Marines  under 
Captain  Miller,  nearly  one-third  were  among  the  casualties;  and  the 
flotilla-men  suffered  considerably,  though  in  a  smaller  proportion.  The 
Marines  and  flotilla-men  were  justly  applauded  for  their  excellent  con 
duct  on  this  occasion.  No  troops  could  have  stood  better;  and  the  fire 
of  both  artillery  and  musketry  has  been  described  to  the  last  degree 
severe.  Captain  Miller,  of  the  Marine  Corps,  in  particular,  gained 
much  additional  reputation  ;  his  gallantry  was  conspicuous.  The  follow 
ing  officers  of  the  Corps  participated  in  this  battle:  Captain  Samuel 


58  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Miller,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner;  Captain  Alexander  Sevier,  wounded; 
Captain  Anthony  Gale,  Captain  Samuel  Bacon,  First  Lieutenant  William 
Hall,  First  Lieutenant  Joseph  L.  Kuhn.  The  major-general  command 
ing  the  British  forces  moved  forward  his  left  brigade,  and  as  this  force 
entered  the  city  the  American  army  quitted  it  on  the  opposite  side. 
Then  commenced  those  acts  of  vandalism,  of  which  to  this  day  the 
British  are  ashamed  and  endeavor  to  palliate.  The  Capitol  and  the 
Secretary  of  State's  office  were  burned,  together  with  the  valuable 
library  containing  many  thousand  volumes  relating  to  our  early  history, 
which  can  never  be  replaced ;  and  the  great  bridge  across  the  Potomac 
was  also  demolished.  An  estimate  from  British  sources  places  the 
amount  of  property  destroyed  at  one  million  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  thousand  dollars.  It  is  therefore  reasonable  to  conclude  that  the 
amount  really  reached  double  that  sum.  On  the  25th  of  August  the 
enemy  left  Washington  by  the  way  of  Bladensburg,  and  on  the  3oth  the 
whole  force  re-embarked. 

The  next  object  of  attack  by  the  enemy  was  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
situated  at  the  head  of  a  narrow  bay  or  inlet  of  the  Patapsco  River,  distant 
from  its  confluence  with  the  Chesapeake  about  fourteen  miles,  and  contain 
ing  fifty  thousand  inhabitants.  On  the  river  it  was,  and  is  still  defended 
by  the  fortification  of  Fort  McHenry,  upon  the  point  of  the  peninsula 
that  forms  the  south  side  of  the  bay,  which,  at  its  entrance,  is  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  width.  Upon  the  hills  to  the  eastward  and  north 
ward  of  the  city,  a  chain  of  palisadoed  redoubts  was  constructed,  con 
nected  by  breastworks,  with  ditches  in  front,  and  supplied  with  artillery. 
The  Java  and  two  corvettes  were  equipping  in  the  port,  in  which  there 
were  several  gunboats.  The  remnants  of  the  army,  under  General 
Winder,  were  reinforced  by  volunteers  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the  sea 
men  and  Marines  present  were  under  the  command  of  Commodore 
Rogers.  On  the  i2th  of  September  the  enemy  landed  at  North  Point. 
The  troops  of  the  enemy  were  reinforced  by  the  Marines  and  six  hundred 
seamen  from  their  fleet.  With  this  party  Rear-Admiral  Cockburn  landed 
in  person.  The  troops,  as  at  Washington,  were  led  by  Major-General 
Ross.  The  whole  force  of  the  enemy  immediately  advanced  towards 
Baltimore,  and  on  arriving  at  the  advanced  post  of  the  American^,  about 
five  miles  from  the  place  of  landing,  were  momentarily  checked  by  the 
local  militia,  who  fell  back,  agreeably  to  orders,  when  it  found  itself 
about  to  be  surrounded.  In  the  skirmish  that  occurred  at  this  spot, 
Major-General  Ross  was  killed.  The  main  body  of  the  enemy  now 
advanced,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Brooke,  of  the  Forty-fourth 
Regiment,  and  soon  encountered  a  larger  force  of  the  Americans, 
numbering  fifteen  hundred  men.  After  a  sharp  engagement  the  English 
retreated  to  the  place  of  debarkation,  and  abandoned  the  enterprise. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  ninety  in  killed 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  5  9 

and  wounded,  while  the  American  loss  was  twenty-four  killed  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  wounded. 

The  attack  by  water  was  equally  unsuccessful.  On  the  i3th,  at  day 
light,  the  bombardment  commenced  upon  the  forts  McHenry,  the  star 
and  the  water  batteries  on  both  sides  of  the  entrance,  and  the  fire  was 
replied  to  vigorously  from  all  points.  During  the  night  of  the  i3th  a 
strong  division  of  twenty  boats  pushed  into  the  Ferry  Branch,  but  was 
received  by  a  warm  fire  from  Forts  Covington  and  Babcock,  as  well  as 
from  the  barges  of  the  flotilla.  The  defence  was  found  to  be  too  obstinate, 
and  the  enemy  retreated.  The  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry  con 
tinued  for  twenty-four  hours,  without  making  any  serious  impression 
upon  it.  A  small  battery  in  advance,  manned  by  Marines  and  seamen 
from  the  flotilla,  although  much  exposed,  returned  the  fire  to  the  last. 
On  the  morning  of  the  i5th  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  retired. 

The  detachment  of  Marines  serving  with  the  army  rendered  valuable 
service,  which  was  gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  commanding  general 
in  his  official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  following  officers  of 
the  Corps  were  engaged  :  Captain  Anthony  Gale,  Lieutenant  H.  B. 
Breckinridge.  This  failure  virtually  terminated  the  warfare  in  the 
Chesapeake,  the  enemy  shortly  after  collecting  most  of  his  forces  at  the 
south,  with  a  view  to  make  a  still  more  serious  attempt  at  New  Orleans. 

The  command  of  the  naval  force  at  New  Orleans  had  been  given  to 
Captain  Patterson,  one  of  the  young  officers  who  had  been  a  prisoner  at 
Tripoli  with  Captain  Bainbridge. 

After  a  series  of  successes,  the  enemy  finding  himself  in  command  of 
Lake  Borgne,  sent  up  a  brigade  of  troops,  under  Major-General  Keane, 
which  succeeded  in  entering  a  bayou,  and  in  landing  but  a  few  miles  below 
New  Orleans.  Here  he  encamped,  after  advancing  to  some  hard  ground, 
on  the  night  of  the  23d  of  December,  with  his  left  flank  resting  on  the 
Mississippi.  No  sooner  was  the  position  of  the  British  known  to  the 
Americans,  than  General  Jackson  marched  against  them,  with  all  the  dis 
posable  force  he  could  assemble,  making  a  total  of  about  fifteen  hundred 
men,  including  a  detachment  of  Marines  under  Major  Carmick,  and  by  a 
prompt  and  spirited  night  attack  he  saved  New  Orleans.  The  movements 
of  the  troops  on  this  occasion  were  preceded  by  Captain  Patterson,  who, 
dropping  down  abreast  of  the  English  bivouac,  in  the  schooner  Carolina, 
opened  a  most  galling  fire.  Eight  Marines  were  killed  and  eight 
wounded  on  this  occasion. 

1815. — On  the  8th  of  January  the  whole  force  of  the  British  army, 
under  Major-General  Sir  Edward  Packenham,  was  formed  for  a  general 
attack  on  the  American  works.  The  enemy  attacked  at  daylight,  and 
were  defeated  with  dreadful  slaughter.  Their  loss  was  Major-Generals 
Packenham  and  Gibbs,  two  thousand  men  killed  and  wounded,  and 
nearly  one  thousand  taken  prisoners.  On  the  night  of  the  i8th  the  Eng- 


6o  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

lish  retreated  to  their  boats  and  embarked,  abandoning  their  attempt 
altogether.  The  Marine  Corps  had  its  share  in  this  glorious  campaign, 
and  it  acted  with  its  usual  good  conduct  under  Major  Carmick,  who  was 
wounded. 

In  his  report  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  dated  2yth  January,  1815, 
Commodore  Patterson  says,  "To  Major  Daniel  Carmick,  commanding 
the  Marines  of  this  station,  I  am  indebted  for  the  promptness  with  which 
my  requisitions  on  him  have  been  complied  with,  and  the  strong  desire 
he  has  always  maintained  to  further,  as  far  as  was  in  his  power,  my 
views. ' ' 

In  the  glorious  action  between  the  Constitution,  Captain  Stewart,  and 
the  British  ships  Cyane  and  Levant,  on  the  2oth  of  February,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  the  Marines  were  commanded 
by  Captain  Archibald  Henderson,  who  was  specially  mentioned  in  the 
official  report  of  that  action. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i5th  of  January,  the  President,  Commodore 
Decatur,  while  near  Long  Island,  fell  in  with  the  enemy's  ships  Majestic, 
Endymion,  Pomona,  and  Tenedos.  All  sail  was  made  by  the  British 
squadron  in  chase,  which  continued  throughout  the  forenoon,  the  wind 
becoming  lighter  and  baffling.  The  Endymion  being  the  nearest  ship, 
closed,  and  a  spirited  engagement  began  between  the  two  vessels  which 
lasted  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  a  parallel  line 
of  sailing.  Both  ships  kept  up  a  smart  fire  of  musketry  by  their  Marines 
in  the  tops.  The  enemy's  vessel  was  now  so  far  injured  that  she  fell 
astern,  most  of  her  sails  having  been  cut  from  the  yards.  At  n  P.M.  the 
Pomona  got  on  the  weather  bow  of  the  American  ship,  and  poured  in  a 
broadside;  and  as  the  Tenedos  was  fast  closing  on  the  quarter,  and  the 
Majestic  was  within  gun-shot  astern,  further  resistance  was  useless  and  the 
President  surrendered.  In  this  long  and  close  cannonade,  the  President 
lost  twenty-four  men  killed,  and  fifty-six  wounded.  The  Endymion  had 
eleven  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.  Lieutenant  Levi  Twiggs  com 
manded  the  Marines  of  the  President,  and  Commodore  Decatur,  in  his 
official  report  says,  "Lieutenant  Twiggs  displayed  great  zeal,  his  men 
were  well  supplied,  and  their  fire  was  incomparable." 

On  the  23d  of  March  the  Hornet,  Captain  Biddle,  encountered  the 
British  brig  Penguin,  eighteen  guns,  and  after  a  hot  engagement  of 
twenty-two  minutes,  the  enemy  surrendered.  The  English  loss  was  four 
teen  killed  and  twenty-eight  wounded,  while  that  of  the  Hornet  was  one 
killed  and  ten  wounded.  First  Lieutenant  W.  L.  Brownlow  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  detachment  of  Marines.  Among  the  incidents  of  the  fight, 
it  is  related  that  Private  Michael  Smith,  who  had  served  under  the 
gallant  Porter,  in  the  Essex  when  she  was  captured  by  the  British,  re 
ceived  a  shot  through  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh,  which  fractured  the 
bone,  and  nearly  at  the  same  moment  had  the  same  leg  broken  immedi- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  6 1 

ately  above  the  knee  by  the  spanker-boom  of  the  Hornet,  which  was 
carried  away  by  the  enemy's  bowsprit  while  afoul  of  her.  In  this  situa 
tion,  while  bleeding  upon  the  deck,  and  unable  to  rise,  he  was  seen  to 
make-  frequent  exertions  to  discharge  his  musket  at  the  enemy  on  the  top 
gallant  forecastle  of  the  Penguin.  This,  however,  the  gallant  fellow  was 
unable  to  accomplish,  and  was  compelled  to  submit  to  be  carried  below. 
The  combat  between  the  Hornet  and  the  Penguin  was  the  last  regular 
action  of  the  war. 


CHAPTER    X. 

1824. — The  Mutiny  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Prison. 

THE  account  of  the  mutiny  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Prfson,  in  1824, 
has  been  familiar  to  the  school-boys  of  the  last  fifty  years.  It  was  given 
in  authentic  form  in  the  New  England  Galaxy  in  1828,  and  has  since 
formed  one  of  the  standard1  selections  for  school  readers.  The  follow 
ing  account  is  taken  from  the  original  story,  omitting  such  portions  as 
do  not  have  bearing  on  the  action  of  the  Marines  who  were  called  in  to 
suppress  the  outbreak:  "Three  convicts  had  been  sentenced,  under  the 
rules  of  the  prison,  to  be  publicly  whipped  in  the  yard,  and  were  con 
fined  in  the  solitary  cells,  waiting  punishment.  An  officer,  whose  duty 
it  was  to  attend  to  such  cases,  entered  one  of  the  cells  to  see  that  every 
thing  was  right,  when  the  inmate  sprang  past  him,  closed  the  door,  and 
locked  him  in.  He  then  opened  the  doors  of  the  cells  in  which  were 
the  other  two,  and  the  three,  after  deliberation,  released  the  officer,  and 
ordered  him  to  approach  the  door  leading  into  the  guard-room,  and 
give  the  necessary  signal  that  all  was  right,  while  they  stood  ready,  on 
its  being  opened,  to  rush  through  and  secure  the  guard  and  the  arms  in 
the  room.  The  officer  resolutely  refused.  They  threatened  to  kill  him  ; 
and  one  of  them  raised  a  file,  sharpened  to  a  point,  with  the  intent  of 
carrying  the  threat  into  execution  ;  but  the  officer  remained  firm,  telling 
them  that  they  might  take  his  life,  but  he  would  not  betray  his  trust. 
The  other  two  finally  interfered  and  saved  his  life,  forcing  him  back  into 
the  cell,  and  locking  him  in.  They  then  passed  into  the  large  dining- 
hall,  a  long,  dark,  and  damp  room.  The  alarm  had  already  been  given, 
and  the  prisoners  rushed  from  the  workshops,  arming  themselves  with 
clubs,  knives,  hammers,  chisels,  and  every  variety  of  weapon  within  their 
reach,  forming  a  band  whose  strength,  vileness,  and  reckless  daring 
could  hardly  be  equalled.  Men  of  all  ages  and  characters,  guilty  of 
every  variety  of  infamous  crimes,  dressed  in  the  motley  and  peculiar 
garb  of  the  institution  at  that  period,  and  displaying  the  wild  and  de- 


62  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

moniac  appearance  that  always  pertains  to  imprisoned  wretches,  were 
gathered  together  for  the  single  purpose  of  preventing  the  punishment 
which  was  to  be  inflicted  on  the  morrow  upon  their  comrades. 

"The  acting  warden  and  some  other  officers  of  the  prison  were  there 
at  the  time,  and  were,  naturally,  greatly  alarmed  at  the  consequences 
likely  to  ensue  from  the  conflict  necessary  to  restore  order.  They 
huddled  together,  but  could  scarcely  be  said  to  consult,  as  the  stoutest 
of  them  lost  all  presence  of  mind  in  overwhelming  fear.  The  news 
spread  rapidly  through  the  town,  and  a  subordinate  officer,  of  mild  and 
kind  disposition,  hurried  to  the  scene,  and,  calm  and  collected,  went 
into  the  midst  of  the  officers.  The  most  equably-tempered  and  the 
mildest  man  in  the  government,  as  is  usually  the  case,  was,  in  this  hour 
of  peril,  the  firmest.  He  instantly,  upon  his  own  responsibility,  de 
spatched  a  request  to  Major  Wainwright,  commander  of  the  Marines 
stationed  at  the  Navy-Yard,  for  assistance,  and  declared  his  purpose  to 
enter  the  hall,  and  try  the  force  of  firm  demeanor  and  persuasion  upon 
the  enraged  multitude.  The  other  officers  exclaimed  against  an  attempt 
so  full  of  hazard,  but  in  vain.  They  offered  him  arms, — a  sword  and 
pistol ;  but  he  refused  them,  and  said  that  he  had  no  fear,  and  in  case  of 
danger,  arms  would  be  of  no  service;  and  alone,  with  only  a  little 
rattan,  which  was  his  usual  walking-stick,  he  advanced  into  the  hall  to 
hold  parley  with  the  enraged  and  desperate  villains. 

"He  demanded  their  purpose  in  thus  coming  together  with  arms,  in 
violation  of  the  prison  laws.  They  replied  that  they  were  determined 
to  obtain  the  remission  of  the  punishment  of  their  three  comrades. 
He  said  that  was  impossible  ;  the  rules  of  the  prison  must  be  enforced, 
and  they  must  submit.  At  the  hint  of  submission,  they  drew  a  little 
nearer  together,  prepared  their  -weapons  for  service,  and  as  they  were 
dimly  seen  in  the  farther  end  of  the  hall  by  those  who  observed  them 
from  the  grating  that  opened  to  the  day,  it  was  difficult  to  conceive  of  a 
more  appalling  sight,  or  one  of  more  moral  grandeur,  than  that  of  a 
single  man  standing  within  their  grasp,  and  exposed  to  instant  death,  if 
a  word  or  look  should  add  to  the  already  intense  excitement. 

"  The  excitement,  too,  was  of  the  most  dangerous  kind  ;  it  did  not 
break  forth  in  noise  and  imprecation,  but  was  seen  only  in  the  dark  looks 
and  the  strained  nerves,  that  showed  a  deep  determination.  They  stated 
that  they  expected  some  would  be  killed,  but  that  death  would  be  better 
than  such  imprisonment ;  and  with  look  and  tone  which  evinced  an  in 
domitable  purpose,  they  declared  that  not  a  man  should  leave  the  hall 
alive  till  the  sentence  of  flogging  was  remitted.  At  this  period  of  the 
discussion  their  evil  passions  seemed  to  be  more  inflamed,  and  one  or  two 
proposed  to  kill  the  officer,  who  still  stood  firm,  and  with  more  temper 
ate  pulse  than  did  his  friends,  who  saw  from  above  but  could  not  avert 
the  danger  that  threatened  him.  Just  at  this  moment  the  officer  saw  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  63 

feet  of  the  Marines  filing  by  the  small  lights.  He  knew  that  it  was  his 
only  time  of  escape  before  a  conflict  for  life  should  begin.  He  stepped 
backward,  still  urging  the  prisoners  to  depart  before  the  officers  were 
driven  to  the  use  of  fire-arms  as  a  last  resort.  When  within  three  or  four 
feet  of  the  door  it  was  opened,  and  closed  instantly  again  as  he  sprang 
through,  and  so  was  unexpectedly  restored  to  his  friends. 

"  Major  Wainwright  was  requested  to  order  his  men  to  fire  down  upon 
the  convicts  through  the  little  windows,  first  with  powder  and  then  with 
ball,  till  they  were  willing  to  retreat;  but  he  took  a  wiser  as  well  as  bolder 
course.  Relying  upon  the  effect  which  firm  determination  would  have 
upon  men  so  critically  situated,  he  ordered  the  door  to  be  again  thrown 
open,  and  marched  in  at  the  head  of  thirty  men,  who  filed  through  the 
passage  and  formed  at  the  end  of  the  hall,  opposite  the  crowd  of  criminals 
grouped  together  at  the  other  end.  He  stated  that  he  was  empowered  to 
quell  the  rebellion  ;  that  he  should  not  quit  that  hall  alive  till  every  con 
vict  had  returned  to  his  duty.  The  latter  seemed  balancing  the  strength 
of  the  two  parties,  and  replied  that  some  of  them  were  ready  to  die,  and 
only  waited  for  the  attack  to  see  which  was  the  more  powerful,  swearing 
that  they  would  fight  to  the  last  unless  the  sentence  of  flogging  was 
remitted,  for  they  would  not  submit  to  any  such  punishment  in  the 
prison. 

"  Major  Wainwright  now  ordered  his  Marines  to  load  their  pieces,  and 
that  they  might  not  be  suspected  of  trifling,  each  man  was  told  to  hold 
up  to  view  the  bullet  which  he  afterwards  put  into  his  gun.  This  only 
caused  a  growl  of  determination,  and  no  one  blanched,  or  seemed  dis 
posed  to  shrink  from  the  foremost  exposure.  They  knew  that  their 
numbers  would  enable  them  to  bear  down  and  destroy  the  handful  of 
Marines,  after  the  first  discharge. 

"The  Marines  were  ordered  to  take  aim;  their  guns  were  presented; 
but  not  a  prisoner  stirred,  except  to  grasp  more  firmly  his  weapon. 
Still  desirous,  if  possible,  to  avoid  such  a  slaughter  as  must  follow  the 
discharge  of  the  guns,  the  major  advanced  a  step  or  two,  and  spoke  even 
more  firmly  than  before,  urging  them  to  depart.  Again,  and  while 
looking  directly  into  the  muzzles  of  the  guns,  which  they  had  seen 
loaded  with  ball,  they  declared  their  intention  of  fighting  it  out.  The 
intrepid  officer  then  took  out  his  watch  and  told  his  men  to  hold  their 
pieces  aimed  at  the  prisoners,  but  not  to  fire  till  they  had  orders.  Then, 
turning  to  the  convicts,  he  said,  '  You  must  leave  this  hall.  I  give 
you  three  minutes  to  decide.  If  at  the  end  of  that  time  a  man  remains, 
he  shall  be  shot  dead.  I  speak  no  more.'  No  more  tragic  situation 
than  this  can  be  conceived :  at  one  end  of  the  hall  a  fearless  multitude 
of  desperate  and  powerful  men  waiting  for  the  assault;  at  the  other  a 
little  band  of  well-disciplined  Marines,  waiting  with  levelled  muskets, 
and  ready  on  the  least  motion  or  sign  to  begin  the  carnage,  and  their 


64  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

tall  commander  holding  up  his  watch  to  count  the  lapse  of  the  three 
allotted  minutes.  For  two  minutes  not  a  person  nor  a  muscle  was  moved ; 
not  a  sound  was  heard  in  the  unwonted  stillness  of  the  prison,  except 
the  labored  breathings  of  the  infuriated  wretches  as  they  began  to  pant 
between  fear  and  revenge.  At  the  expiration  of  two  minutes,  during 
which  they  had  faced  the  ministers  of  death  with  unfaltering  eyes,  two 
or  three  of  those  in  the  rear,  and  nearest  to  the  further  entrance,  went 
slowly  out ;  a  few  more  followed  the  example,  dropping  out  quietly  and 
deliberately ;  and  before  half  the  last  minute  was  gone,  every  man  was 
struck  by  the  panic,  and  crowded  for  exit,  and  the  hall  was  cleared  as  if 
by  magic.  Thus  the  steady  firmness  of  moral  force,  and  the  strong 
effect  of  deliberate  determination,  cowed  the  most  daring  men,  and  pre 
vented  a  scene  of  carnage  which  would  have  instantly  followed  the  least 
precipitancy  or  exertion  of  physical  force  by  the  officers  or  their  sub 
ordinates." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1824-35 — Operations  against  Pirates — Quallah  Batoo — Services  in  New  York. 

"THE  series  of  revolutions  which  wrested  from  Spain  her  colonial  pos 
sessions  in  Mexico  and  South  America  caused  serious  interference  with 
the  commerce  of  the  United  States.  Vessels  were  plundered,  then  sent 
adrift,  burnt,  or  taken  possession  of,  as  fancy  or  interest  dictated ;  the 
officers,  crews,  and  passengers  were  always  treated  with  indignity  and  vio 
lence,  very  frequently  murdered  in  cold  blood,  and,  in  some  instances, 
their  bodies  after  death  were  abused  with  disgusting  barbarity,  after 
cruelty  had  exhausted  ingenuity  in  contrivances  of  insupportable  torture." 
In  the  fall  of  1821  the  government  took  measures  to  capture  and  bring 
to  punishment  the  offenders. 

Although  the  Marines  attached  to  Commodore  Porter's  squadron  par 
ticipated  in  all  of  the  expeditions  against  pirates  off  Porto  Rico,  San 
Domingo,  and  Cuba,  yet  as  these  resulted  in  the  easy  capture  and  destruc 
tion  of  their  strongholds,  but  slight  mention  is  made  of  their  services 
during  this  period. 

The  next  hostile  occupation  of  any  of  the  national  vessels  was  in  the 
expedition  against  the  pirates  of  Quallah  Batoo,  undertaken  by  Commo 
dore  John  Downes  in  the  frigate  Potomac  in  the  year  1832.  The  cause 
of  this  expedition  originated  during  the  year  1831,  in  the  capture  of  the 
American  ship  Friendship,  which  was  lying  in  the  harbor  of  Quallah 
Batoo,  taking  in  a  load  of  pepper.  The  capture  was  unprovoked  by  any 
acts  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  and  was  accomplished  in  a  treacherous 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  65 

manner,  and  by  the  murder  of  the  mate  and  two  seamen  of  the  ship. 
By  the  assistance  of  other  American  merchantmen,  the  captain  ultimately 
recovered  his  vessel,  but  she  was  completely  rifled  of  all  valuables,  and 
the  object  of  the  voyage  was  broken  up.  Commodore  Downes  was  in 
structed  to  obtain  redress  for  this  special  and  aggravated  wrong.  Quallah 
Batoo  is  situated  on  the  western  shore  of  the  island  of  Sumatra.  It  lies 
entirely  open  to  the  sea.  The  navigation  in  the  vicinity  is  exceedingly 
difficult  and  dangerous ;  reefs  and  shoals  lining  the  shore.  At  the  time 
of  the  expedition  the  town  including  the  neighboring  plantations  is  said 
to  have  had  a  population  of  four  thousand.  It  was  defended  by  several 
small  forts,  mounted  with  three  or  four  guns  each. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1832,  the  Potomac  arrived  on  the  coast  of 
Sumatra.  Commodore  Downes  disguised  the  frigate  as  a  merchantman, 
and  then  stood  in  and  anchored  about  three  miles  from  the  town.  Being 
convinced  that  any  mere  verbal  demand  for  satisfaction  would  be  entirely 
useless,  and  only  give  time  for  the  Malays  to  prepare  better  for  their  de 
fence,  he  determined  to  make  an  attack  as  soon  as  possible,  in  hopes  of 
taking  them  by  surprise,  and  securing  the  persons  of  some  of  the  rajahs, 
holding  whom  as  hostages  he  might  gain  higher  terms  of  satisfaction. 
Preparations  to  land  the  same  night  were  therefore  made.  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  seamen  and  Marines  were  detailed  for  the  duty,  and  the  whole 
placed  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Irwin'  Shubrick,  the  first  lieu 
tenant  of  the  ship.  The  Marines  were  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Alvin 
Edson  and  Lieutenant  George  H.  Terrett.  At  a  sufficient  time  before 
daylight,  to  be  unobserved,  the  boats  were  hoisted  out,  and  the  men  stowed 
away  in  them,  when  they  quietly  and  swiftly  pulled  towards  shore.  They 
went  in  through  a  heavy  surf,  but  were  all  safely  landed,  and  in  fifteen 
minutes  were  formed  in  their  line  of  march.  Lieutenant  Edson  led  the 
van  with  the  Marines.  The  first  division  of  seamen  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Pinkham,  the  second  by  Lieutenant  Hoff,  and  the  third  by 
Lieutenant  Ingersoll.  A  6-pounder  was  in  charge  of  Sailing-Master 
Totten. 

When  the  day  dawned  the  march  commenced  along  the  beach.  The 
Malays  were  anticipating  an  attack,  for  their  scouts  were  seen.  Lieu 
tenant  Hoff  was  ordered  to  surround  the  first  fort,  which  was  the  most 
northern  one.  He  left  the  main  body  with  his  division,  and  soon  came 
to  the  outworks,  consisting  of  a  strong  stockade  of  timber.  Within  this 
there  was  still  a  citadel,  armed  with  small  cannon.  As  soon  as  the  divi 
sion  approached,  the  Malays  commenced  the  action  by  a  sharp  fire  from 
all  arms.  They  fought  with  great  bravery  and  steadiness,  and  were  found 
to  be  no  mean  adversaries.  Lieutenant  Hoff  succeeded  in  breaking 
through  the  gate-way  of  the  stockade,  but  the  Malays  still  stood  the  attack 
for  two  hours  within  their  citadel.  Finding  it  impossible  to  dislodge 
them  by  a  distant  fire,  preparations  were  made  to  take  the  citadel  by 


66  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

storm.  It  was  necessary  to  tear  up  some  of  the  palisades  and  to  form  a 
bridge  of  them,  over  which  the  eager  seamen  rushed,  carrying  the  work 
which  had  so  long  held  them  in  check,  by  assault,  which  the  Malays 
could  not  withstand. 

Lieutenant  Edson,  with  the  Marines,  attacked  the  next  fort,  situated 
in  the  rear  of  the  town.  There  the  same  scenes  were  repeated,  the 
Malays  behaving  with  the  same  spirit,  and  made  a  long  and  obstinate  re 
sistance.  But  they  could  not  face  the  Marines,  as  with  steady  discipline 
they  stormed  the  fort  and  forced  their  way  into  it.  Lieutenant  Shu- 
brick  attacked  the  principal  fort  with  the  first  and  third  divisions,  aided 
by  the  6-pounder  situated  at  the  southern  point  of  the  town,  near  the 
beach.  Here  the  fight  was  long  and  gallantly  maintained  on  both 
sides.  The  gate  of  the  outer  defences  was  soon  forced,  and  the  men 
rushed  in,  anxious  to  come  to  closer  quarters  with  their  foes.  The 
stronghold,  consisting  of  an  elevated  platform  mounted  with  several 
cannon,  still  held  out,  and  our  men  had  to  stand  the  fire  from  it 
without  protection.  The  ladder  to  the  platform  had  been  removed,  and 
in  the  attempt  to  climb  up  to  it  one  man  was  killed  and  several  were 
wounded.  At  this  critical  moment,  Lieutenant  Hoff,  with  the  second 
division,  and  Lieutenant  Edson,  with  the  Marines,  having  secured  their 
victories,  came  up  with  detachments,  and  took  a  position  between  the 
fort  and  the  water,  from  which  they  poured  in  a  very  effective  cross-fire. 
The  battle  now  raged  against  the  devoted  Malays  with  exterminating  se 
verity.  Although  thus  closely  invested,  and  numbers  falling  under  so 
well-conducted  a  fire,  they  yet  fought  with  desperation,  and  it  was  not 
till  almost  all  were  killed  that  their  position  could  be  carried. 

The  town  was  now  fired  and  much  of  it  was  reduced  to  ashes.  The 
last  fort  was  now  revealed  by  opening  its  fire.  A  detachment  of  Marines 
and  seamen  was  ordered  to  capture  it.  The  Malays,  as  usual,  fought 
fiercely.  But  success  had  animated  the  Americans  with  even  unwonted 
zeal  and  impetuosity,  and  after  a  short  conflict  they  carried  this  work 
by  assault. 

The  action  had  continued  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  and  with  success 
on  our  part  at  every  point  attacked.  This  success  was  purchased  at  some 
cost,  though  it  was  comparatively  small.  Two  men  were  killed,  two 
officers  and  nine  men  were  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  must  have 
been  very  severe,  for  it  was  known  that  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty 
were  killed.  Among  those  killed  was  the  rajah  who  was  principally 
concerned  in  the  capture  and  plunder  of  the  Friendship. 

The  casualties  among  the  Marines  were  as  follows : 

Killed. — Private  Benjamin  J.  Brown. 

Wounded. — Lieutenant  Alvin  Edson,  Privates  Daniel  H.  Cole  (mor 
tally),  James  A.  Huster. 

1835. — During  the  great  fire  of  1835  in  New  York  City,  it  was  found 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  67 

necessary  to  ask  for  military  aid  ;  a  requisition  was  therefore  made  for  as 
many  Marines  as  could  be  spared  from  the  barracks  in  Brooklyn.  First 
Lieutenant  J.  G.  Reynolds  was  ordered  to  report  with  a  detachment  to 
the  city  authorities  for  such  duty  as  might  be  assigned.  A  strong  line  of 
sentinels  was  posted  so  as  to  efficiently  guard  public  and  private  property, 
and  with  such  signal  success  that  the  gratitude  of  the  city  was  conse 
quently  expressed  in  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Lieutenant  Reynolds  and  the 
Marines  under  his  command. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

1836-42. — Potomac  at  Port  Mahon — The  Services  of  the  Corps  during  the  Campaigns 
against  the  Indians  in  Florida — The  United  States  Exploring  Expedition — The 
mutiny  on  board  the  brig  Somers. 

IN  1836,  on  board  of  the  United  States  ship  Potomac,  at  Port  Mahon, 
a  serious  outbreak  of  the  crew  occurred,  which,  but  for  the  promptness 
of  the  Marines  in  quelling  it,  might  have  resulted  in  very  serious  mutiny, 
and  the  action  of  the  Marines  was  a  subject  of  commendation  by  the 
officers  of  the  ship. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  Indian  hostilities  in  Georgia,  in  1836,  at  a 
moment  when  the  Indians  were  ravaging  the  country,  and  the  disposable 
force  of  the  army  was  inadequate  to  the  emergency,  Colonel-Commandant 
Archibald  Henderson  of  the  Marines  volunteered  his  services,  together 
with  that  portion  of  the  Corps  stationed  at  the  different  Navy-Yards.  In 
this  he  was  seconded  most  cheerfully  by  the  officers  under  his  command. 
Their  services  were  accepted,  and  their  places  at  the  Yards  temporarily 
filled  by  watchmen  from  civil  life.  Before  leaving  Washington,  Colonel 
Henderson  was  the  recipient  of  a  cane,  presented  by  the  officers  of  the 
Corps.  It  was  made  of  a  piece  of  the  original  timber  of  the  Corvette 
Cyane,  captured  in  1815  by  the  frigate  Constitution,  under  Commodore 
Stewart.  The  cane  had  a  gold  head  and  silver  ferrule,  and  a  sword  about 
nine  inches  in  length.  On  one  side  of  the  blade  was  the  following  in 
scription  : 

To  Colonel  Archibald  Henderson,  Commandant  of  Marines,  commander  of  the  guard 
on  board  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution  in  the  capture  of  H.  B.  M.  Corvettes 
Cyane  and  Levant. 

On  the  reverse  side  : 

This  cane,  being  a  piece  of  the  original  timber  of  the  Cyane,  is  presented  by  the 
officers  of  the  Corps,  January  I,  1836. 

On  the  head  were  the  words : 
Col.  A.  Henderson,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 


68  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

The  National  Intelligencer  of  June  2,  1836,  says,  "The  detachment 
of  Marines  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Henderson,  which  so  promptly 
and  handsomely  volunteered  to  go  against  the  Creek  Indians,  will,  we 
understand,  leave  here  this  morning  in  the  Columbia  for  Norfolk, 
where  they  will  take  passage  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  on  their 
route  to  the  scene  of  savage  warfare.  This  is  another  striking  evi 
dence  of  the  great  value  of  this  arm  of  the  national  defence  ;  it  has  shown 
itself  as  prompt  to  defend  its  country  on  the  land  as  on  the  water,  the 
element  on  which  it  was  designed,  originally,  exclusively  to  act.  Upon 
several  occasions  during  the  late  war  with  England,  detachments  from 
this  brave  and  highly  disciplined  Corps  covered  themselves  with  unfading 
laurels  by  their  conduct  while  serving  on  land  ;  and  in  every  instance  of 
conflict  on  the  water  its  bravery  and  efficiency  were  attested  by  the  official 
reports  of  the  actions  in  which  it  bore  a  part.  In  the  present  emergency 
it  did  not  wait  even  an  intimation  that  its  services  would  be  acceptable, 
but  promptly  came  forth,  through  its  commanding  officer,  in  the  first 
hour  of  danger,  and  voluntarily  offered  to  leave  its  comfortable  quarters, 
and  within  one  week  from  the  offer  we  see  a  strong  and  well-appointed 
detachment  of  fine-looking  men  bidding  farewell  to  families  and  friends, 
and  taking  up  the  line  of  march  to  seek  a  savage  and  treacherous  foe  in 
a  distant  land  and  in  an  inhospitable  climate,  to  stay  the  ravages  of  war, 
and  to  protect  the  innocent,  the  helpless,  and  the  unoffending.  They 
will  carry  with  them  the  best  and  warmest  wishes  of  all,  that  their  success 
may  be  commensurate  with  their  bravery  and  zeal." 

The  Columbus,  Georgia,  Sentinel  of  July  i  contained  the  following: 
"  The  first  battalion  of  United  States  Marines,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Henderson,  is  now  stationed  at  Camp  Henderson,  fifteen  miles 
below  Columbus,  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Chattahoochee.  The  bat 
talion  arrived  at  this  place  on  the  23d  instant,  having  left  Washington  on 
the  ist,  and  Augusta  on  the  loth,  marching  from  Augusta  to  this  place 
in  fourteen  days,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  miles.  On 
their  arrival  here,  orders  were  received  from  General  Scott  to  proceed  to 
their  present  station  with  all  possible  despatch,  and  there  erect  a  strong 
picket  work,  as  a  place  of  deposit  for  provisions,  etc.,  for  the  eastern 
wing  of  the  army.  Since  their  arrival  there  the  officers  and  men  have 
all  enjoyed  good  health  and  spirits,  and  pursue  their  work  with  vigilance 
and  promptness.  Their  location  being  in  the  most  exposed  part  of  the 
enemy's  country,  it  is  a  great  privation  for  them  to  be  confined  to  the 
monotonous  duties  of  the  camp,  though  well  convinced  of  the  importance 
of  their  present  work.  Their  camp  has  been  for  two  successive  nights 
roused  by  Indians  lurking  about,  and  approaching  the  picket  sentinels 
within  a  few  yards,  when  they  were  fired  on  and  pursuit  immediately 
given,  but  no  traces  of  them  could  be  found.  Last  night,  after  the  roll 
of  the  drum  had  ceased,  a  whoop  was  distinctly  heard  up  the  river,  which 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  J,   ZEILIN, 
Commandant  June  10,  1864,  to  Nov.  i,  1876. 


MAJOR    DANIEL    CARMICK. 

Died  from  wound  received  in  defence  of  New 

Orleans,  at  the  battle  of  Dec.  23,  1814. 


COLONEL-COMMANDANT   JOHN   HARRIS. 
Commandant  Jan.   7,  1859.       Died  May  12,  1864. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  69 

no  doubt  was  a  signal  to  a  party  above.  On  Friday  morning  last  a  negro 
boy  who  had  escaped  from  the  Indians  that  morning,  and  who  had  been 
a  prisoner  some  five  or  six  weeks,  was  brought  into  the  camp  by  Captain 
Love,  of  the  Georgia  volunteers.  He  stated  that  a  party  of  twenty  or 
thirty  had  camped  the  night  before  within  six  or  seven  miles,  and  had 
left  that  morning  for  a  large  swamp  not  far  off,  no  doubt  Cowagee  Swamp, 
and  that  he  saw  Jim  Henry  that  day,  who  advised  them  to  go  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  that  he  had  been  badly  wounded  in  the  shoulder.  Captains 
Twiggs's  and  Dulany's  companies,  together  with  a  company  of  Georgia 
volunteers,  under  Captain  Love,  the  whole  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Tvviggs,  were  immediately  despatched  in  hopes  of  overtaking  them,  but 
without  success.  They  soon  came  upon  their  abandoned  camp,  found 
their  fires  burning  and  meat  cooking,  and  everything  about  indicating 
a  sudden  departure.  A  negro  man  was  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp, 
who,  with  great  reluctance,  gave  himself  up.  He  was  armed  with  a  mus 
ket,  twenty  balls,  and  a  pocket  full  of  power.  He  was  much  frightened, 
but  seemed  determined  to  communicate  as  little  as  possible ;  but  as  far  as 
he  did  tell,  he  corroborated  the  statements  of  the  boy.  The  party  took 
a  number  of  horses  belonging  to  the  Indians,  and  a  variety  of  ornaments, 
which  they  in  their  hurry  had  left  behind.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that 
the  Indians  are  concentrating  somewhere  in  that  vicinity,  and  will  make 
a  desperate  effort  to  cross  the  river ;  if  they  do  they  may  be  assured  the 
troops  now  there  will  give  them  warm  work." 

On  Friday,  the  24th  of  June,  the  second  battalion  of  Marines,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Freeman,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  men,  reached  Milledgeville,  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
their  destination,  Fort  Mitchell.  Orders  were  almost  immediately  given 
to  proceed  to  Florida. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October  the  two  battalions,  consolidated  into  one 
regiment  of  six  companies,  arrived  at  Apalachicola,  Florida,  from  Fort 
Mitchell,  Alabama,  on  their  way  to  Tampa  Bay.  The  following  is  a  list 
of  the  officers  of  the  battalion,  which  was  attached  to  the  army  under 
the  command  of  General  Jessup  : 

Colonel-Commandant :  Archibald  Henderson.  Major  and  Brevet 
Lieutenant-Colonel :  Samuel  Miller.  Major  and  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel :  W.  H.  Freeman.  Staff:  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles 
R.  Broom,  Paymaster;  Captain  Parke  G.  Howie,  Adjutant  and  Inspec 
tor;  Captain  E.  J.  Weed,  Quartermaster;  First  Lieutenant  George  F. 
Lindsay,  Assistant  Quartermaster;  First  Lieutenant  F.  C.  Hall,  As 
sistant  Commissary;  Surgeon,  John  A.  Kearney,  U.S.N.  ;  Passed  As 
sistant  Surgeon,  George  B.  McKnight,  U.S.A.  ;  Sergeant,  Major  James 
Gatchell.  Captains :  Levi  Twiggs,  John  Harris,  James  Edelin,  William 
Dulany,  T.  S.  English,  and  George  W.  Walker.  First  Lieutenants  :  Brevet 
Captain  James  McCawley,  Brevet  Captain  Benjamin  Macomber;  First 


70  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Lieutenants,  Alvin  Edson,  H.  B.  Tyler,  L.  N.  Carter,  John  G.  Rey 
nolds,  T.  L.  C.  Watkins,  F.  N.  Armistead,  George  H.  Terrett,  W.  E. 
Starke,  W.  E.  Lang,  and  A.  H.  Ross.  Second  Lieutenants:  D.  D. 
Baker,  L.  F.  Whitney,  E.  L.  West,  Robert  C.  Caldwell,  W.  L.  Young, 
Josiah  Watson,  W.  McArdle,  and  John  T.  Sprague. 

The  Marines  participated  in  the  arduous  campaigns  under  General 
Jessup,  and  received  from  him  the  highest  commendations.  At  the  battle 
of  the  Wahoo  Swamp,  Colonel  B.  K.  Pierce,  commanding  the  right 
division,  mentions  in  his  official  report  the  gallant  conduct  of  First  Lieu 
tenant  Andrew  Ross  of  the  Marines,  who  was  wounded.  This  officer 
subsequently  died  of  his  wounds. 

1837. — The  Marines  bore  an  honorable  and  highly  important  part  in 
the  battle  of  Hatchee-Lustee,  which  began  on  the  226.  of  January,  1837. 
The  main  body  of  the  army,  under  command  of  Major-General  Jessup, 
was  put  in  motion  on  that  day,  to  attack  the  Indians  and  negroes  in  the 
strongholds  which  they  were  said  to  occupy  on  the  head-waters  of  the 
Ocklawaha.  On  the  23d,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Caulfield  was  detached 
with  his  battalion  of  mounted  Alabama  volunteers,  Captain  Harris's 
company  of  Marines,  and  Major  Morris's  Indian  warriors,  accompanied 
by  General  Jessup's  aid,  Lieutenant  Chambers,  to  attack  Osuchee,  a  chief 
of  some  note,  who  was  reported  to  have  a  large  Indian  force  under  his 
command  in  a  swamp  on  the  borders  of  Ahpopka  Lake.  The  chief  was 
surprised,  himself  and  three  warriors  killed,  and  nine  Indians  and  eight 
negroes  captured.  On  the  27th  the  enemy  was  found  on  the  Hatchee- 
Lustee,  in  and  near  the  "Great  Cypress  Swamp,"  and  promptly  and 
gallantly  attacked.  Lieutenant  Chambers,  with  Price's  company  of 
Alabama  volunteers,  by  a  rapid  charge,  succeeded  in  capturing  the 
horses  and  baggage  of  the  enemy,  with  twenty-five  Indians  and  negroes, 
principally  women  and  children,  the  men  having  mostly  fled  into  the 
swamp.  Colonel  Henderson,  leaving  one  company  with  the  prisoners 
and  horses,  entered  the  swamp  with  the  remainder  of  his  command, 
drove  the  enemy  across  the  Hatchee-Lustee,  passed  that  river  under  their 
fire,  and  drove  them  into  a  more  dense  and  difficult  swamp,  in  which 
they  dispersed.  A  considerable  force  was  ordered  to  support  Colonel 
Henderson.  When  the  troops  reached  the  point  where  the  colonel  had 
entered  the  swamp,  it  was  ascertained  that  he  was  in  rapid  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  and  was  believed  to  be  fully  able  to  overcome  the  force  opposed 
to  him.  The  result  of  the  day's  operations  was  the  capture  by  Colonel 
Henderson's  force  of  two  Indian  women  and  three  children,  and  twenty- 
three  negroes,  young  and  old,  and  over  a  hundred  ponies,  with  packs  on 
about  fifty  of  them.  All  their  clothes,  blankets,  and  other  baggage 
were  abandoned  by  the  enemy,  and  either  taken  or  destroyed  by  Colonel 
Henderson.  In  his  report  of  the  affair  Colonel  Henderson  says,  "The 
regular  troops,  both  artillery  and  Marines,  displayed  great  bravery  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  7 1 

the  most  untiring  and  determined  perseverance.  The  Marines,  however, 
I  cannot  -refrain  from  mentioning  in  a  particular  manner.  The  killed 
and  wounded  show  where  they  were,  and  render  any  further  comment 
from  me  unnecessary." 

The  Army  and  Navy  Chronicle  of  June  15  contained  the  following: 
"  The  Marine  Corps  has  been  so  much  separated  for  a  year  or  more  past 
that  we  have  not  had  it  in  our  power  to  make  any  report  of  the  changes 
that  have  occurred  in  the  stations  of  its  officers.  We  are  rejoiced  to 
perceive  that  this  Corps  has  been  earning  a  harvest  of  fame  in  Florida, 
by  the  alacrity,  zeal,  and  ability  with  which  the  duties  assigned  to  it  have 
been  discharged  ;  and  we  welcome  back  to  their  homes,  and  to  comparative 
repose,  those  members  of  it  who  have  been  so  long  actively  engaged  in 
combating  the  savages."  The  following  order,  signed  by  General  Jessup, 
was  issued  from  the  Head-quarters  Army  of  the  South,  Tampa  Bay,  May 
22d  :  "  The  presence  of  Colonel  Henderson  being  required  at  the  head 
quarters  of  his  Corps,  he  will  proceed  to  Washington  City  and  report  to 
the  adjutant-general  of  the  army.  The  major-general  commanding  would 
be  forgetful  of  what  is  due  to  merit,  and  would  do  injustice  to  his  own 
feelings,  were  he  to  omit  on  the  present  occasion  the  expression  of  the 
high  sense  he  entertains  of  the  distinguished  and  valuable  services 
rendered  by  the  colonel.  He  tenders  him  his  warmest  thanks  for  the 
able,  zealous,  and  cheerful  support  he  has  on  every  occasion  received 
from  him,  both  in  Florida  and  Alabama;  and  begs  him  to  accept  his 
best  wishes  for  his  future  fame  and  happiness.  Captain  Howie,  adjutant 
and  inspector  of  the  Marine  Corps,  and  Surgeon  Kearney,  of  the  Navy, 
medical  director  of  the  army,  will  accompany  Colonel  Henderson.  The 
major-general  thanks  them  for  the  zeal,  efficiency,  and  ability  with 
which  they  have  performed  every  duty  which  has  devolved  upon  them 
since  they  have  been  attached  to  this  army,  and  he  assures  them  that 
they  carry  with  them  his  best  wishes  and  kindest  regards.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Miller  will  command,  with  his  brevet  rank,  the  troops  south  of 
the  Hillsborough." 

Colonel  Henderson  arrived  in  Washington  about  the  middle  of  June, 
accompanied  by  Captain  Howie,  of  the  Corps,  and  by  Surgeon  Kearney, 
of  the  Navy.  The  National  Intelligencer,  in  announcing  their  arrival, 
said,  "  We  are  glad  to  learn  that  Colonel  Henderson,  and  the  officers 
who  accompanied  him,  have  returned  to  their  families  in  good  health. 
They  have  suffered  much  in  common  with  all  with  whom  they  have 
served,  not  less  from  the  climate,  and  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  country 
which  has  been  the  theatre  of  the  war,  than  from  the  necessary  hardships 
of  service  in  so  wild  and  destitute  a  region.  The  gallant  Corps,  which 
it  is  the  good  fortune  of  Colonel  Henderson  to  command,  has  always 
been  distinguished  wheresoever  duty  has  called  it.  In  the  present  case 
the  Corps  deserves  peculiar  commendation,  from  having  volunteered  in 


72  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

the  war  in  Florida,  and  having  repaired  to  its  theatre,  a  thousand  miles 
distant,  to  share  in  its  perils  and  privations.  Its  commander  deserves 
the  praise  of  having  proven  himself  worthy  of  his  post,  both  by  his 
gallantry  in  the  field,  and  by  patience  and  good  example  under  all 
difficulties ;  and  he,  his  officers,  and  men  have  most  honorably  main 
tained  the  pledge  which  they  gave  to  the  government  and  to  their 
country  when  they  first  tendered  their  services.  The  Corps  remains 
in  Florida  under  the  veteran  and  gallant  Colonel  Miller,  to  make 
further  sacrifices  and  endure  fresh  hardships,  should  the  obstinacy  of 
the  Indians,  as  now  appears  too  probable,  unhappily  prolong  the 
war." 

The  uniform  of  the  Marines  for  a  long  time,  and  until  1839,  was  a 
green  coat  with  white  or  buff  facings,  an  undress  frock-coat  of  the  same 
color,  a  sword  with  white  ivory  cross  hilt  and  brass  scabbard,  and  white 
leather  belts.  In  1839  it  was  changed,  to  take  effect  from  July  4,  1840, 
to  blue  with  red  facings. 

The  following  list  exhibits  the  character  and  strength  of  the  naval  force 
employed  in  the  Mosquito  Fleet  from  June,  1838,  until  August,  1842: 
Lieutenant  John  T.  McLaughlin,  commanding  in  chief.  The  squadron 
consisted  of  the  Wave,  Panther,  revenue-cutters  Campbell  and  Otsego, 
with  a  force  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  from  June,  1838,  until  Novem 
ber,  1839;  from  this  date  until  June,  1841,  of  the  Flirt,  Wave,  Otsego, 
and  barges  Mayo  and  Harney,  and  two  companies  of  Marines,  in  all  five 
hundred  and  forty-one  men  ;  from  June,  1841,  until  August,  1842,  of  the 
Flirt,  Wave,  Otsego,  Phoenix,  Jefferson,  Madison,  Van  Bnren,  and 
barges  Mayo  and  Harney,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty  Marines,  making 
an  aggregate  force  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-two  men,  of  whom  sixty- 
eight  were  officers ;  one  hundred  and  forty  canoes  were  employed  by  the 
squadron  during  its  service.  From  1839  to  1840  the  Marines  on  the 
ships  were  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  George  H.  Terrett,  with 
Lieutenant  I.  R.  Wilson  and  Robert  D.  Taylor  as  his  subordinates. 
From  1840  to  1842  they  were  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  Thomas 
T.  Sloan,  with  Lieutenants  I.  R.  Wilson  and  Robert  D.  Taylor  as  his 
subordinates.  In  addition  to  the  garrison  at  Indian  Key,  in  1842  the 
Marines  garrisoned  Fort  Dallas. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1841,  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Marines  and  seamen,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  J.  T.  Mc 
Laughlin,  commanding  the  Mosquito  Fleet,  made  a  scout  through  the 
everglades.  The  scout  lasted  twenty-two  days,  and  although  the 
Indians  fled  before  them  in  all  directions,  allowing  no  opportunity  for 
fighting,  the  result  of  the  arduous  trip  was  to  gain  information  of  an  ex 
tensive  country  which  had  never  before  been  explored,  and  to  exhibit  an 
imposing  force  in  the  heart  of  a  country  hitherto  deemed  impenetrable ; 
the  tendency  of  which  was  to  strengthen  the  wavering  and  doubtful 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  73 

Indians  in  their  inclinations  to  submit.  The  depot  for  the  Florida 
squadron,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  McLaughlin,  was  at  Indian  Key, 
on  the  eastern  coast. 

For  several  weeks  Lieutenant  Sloan  of  the  Marines  was  employed  with 
his  command  on  the  coonti  grounds  between  the  Miami  and  New  Rivers, 
with  instructions  to  explore  every  acre  of  them.  During  the  exploration, 
Lieutenant  Sloan  came  upon  five  distinct  settlements  of  Indians,  the  first 
of  them  within  five  miles  of  Fort  Dallas,  between  Little  River  and  Arch 
Creek.  The  instant  he  was  discovered  signal  fires  sprang  up  in  every 
direction,  as  if  by  magic,  and  fields  and  settlements  were  as  suddenly 
deserted.  Large  quantities  of  ripe  corn  were  gathered  and  destroyed, 
and  many  fields  laid  waste.  A  second  scout  of  Marines,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Taylor,  in  co-operation  with  Lieutenant-Commanders  Marchand 
and  Rodgers,  was  compelled  to  return  abruptly  to  their  post  for  want  of 
water.  The  fatigue  and  privation  undergone  by  this  detachment  was  so 
great  that  Private  Kingsbury  fell  in  his  trail  and  died  from  sheer  ex 
haustion.  Their  patient  endurance  and  cheerful  alacrity  in  the  dis 
charge  of  every  duty  proved  the  high  state  of  discipline,  both  of  Marines 
and  seamen. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  Lieutenant  McLaughlin  received  orders  to  return 
to  Norfolk  with  the  vessels  under  his  command. 

Congress,  by  a  law  of  the  i8th  of  May,  1836,  authorized  the  equip 
ment  and  employment  of  a  portion  of  the  national  Marine  for  the  pur 
pose  of  exploring  those  seas  in  which  the  whale  fisheries,  as  well  as  other 
branches  of  commercial  enterprise  were  pursued.  On  the  20th  of  March, 
1838,  Lieutenant  Charles  Wilkes,  U.S.N.,  was  directed  to  assume  the 
command  of  the  expedition. 

The  instructions  issued  to  him  by  the  Navy  Department,  dated  the 
nth  of  August,  1838,  indicated  the  following  objects  to  be  aimed  at: 
"To  explore  and  survey  the  Southern  Ocean,  having  in  view  the  im 
portant  interest  of  our  commerce  embarked  in  the  whale-fisheries,  as 
well  as  to  determine  the  existence  of  all  doubtful  islands  and  shoals;  and 
to  discover  and  accurately  fix  the  position  of  those  which  lie  in  or  near 
the  track  pursued  by  our  merchant  vessels  in  that  quarter,  and  which 
may  have  hitherto  escaped  the  observation  of  scientific  navigators. 

"Although  the  primary  object  of  the  expedition  is  the  promotion  of 
the  great  interests  of  commerce  and  navigation,  yet  all  occasions  will  be 
taken,  not  incompatible  with  the  great  purpose  of  the  undertaking,  to  ex 
tend  the  bounds  of  science,  and  to  promote  the  acquisition  of  knowledge. 
For  the  more  successful  attainment  of  these  objects,  a  corps  of  scientific 
gentlemen  for  the  departments  of  philology,  zoology,  conchology, 
geology,  mineralogy,  and  botany,  with  artists  and  a  horticulturist,  will 
accompany  the  expedition,  and  are  placed  under  your  direction.  The 
hydrography  and  geography  of  the  various  seas  and  countries  you  may 


74  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

visit  in  the  route  pointed  out  to  you  will  occupy  your  special  attention ; 
and  all  the  researches  connected  with  them,  as  well  as  with  astronomy, 
terrestrial  magnetism,  and  meteorology  are  confided  exclusively  to  the 
officers  of  the  Navy,  on  whose  zeal  and  talents  the  department  confidently 
relies  for  such  results  as  will  enable  future  navigators  to  pass  over  the 
track  traversed  by  your  vessels  without  fear  and  without  danger." 

The  track  marked  out  in  the  instructions  required  a  circumnavigation 
of  the  globe,  with  a  divergence  quite  towards  the  Southern  Pole,  and  so 
far  towards  the  north  as  the  westward  possessions  of  the  United  States 
extended,  with  frequent  crossings  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  extensive 
cruisings  among  its  countless  islands.  This  course  was  very  fully  and 
faithfully  pursued  through  a  space  of  three  years  and  ten  months. 

The  vessels  composing  the  squadron  were  the  sloop  Vincennes,  Lieu 
tenant  Wilkes,  commanding  the  expedition  ;  the  sloop  Peacock,  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  W.  L.  Hudson ;  the  brig  Porpoise,  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Cadwalader  Ringgold  ;  store-ship  Relief,  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  A.  K.  Long ;  tenders  Sea-Gull  and  Flying-Fish,  commanded  by 
Passed-Midshipmen  Reid  and  Knox. 

The  squadron  sailed  from  Hampton  Roads  on  the  ipth  of  August  for 
Madeira ;  then  it  took  a  southerly  course,  touched  at  the  Cape  de 
Verde  Islands,  and  arrived  at  Rio  on  the  24th  of  November.  On  the 
6th  of  January  they  left  Rio ;  stopped  at  the  Rio  Negro,  doubled  Cape 
Horn,  and  entered  Orange  Harbor. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May  the  squadron  rendezvoused  in  the  harbor  of 
Valparaiso,  with  the  exception  of  the  Sea-Gull,  which  was  lost  at  sea. 
Passed-Midshipmen  Reid  and  Bacon,  with  a  crew  of  fifteen  men,  were 
lost  by  this  disaster.  The  squadron  next  stopped  at  Callao.  They  left 
Callao  on  the  i2th  of  July,  and  arrived  at  Sydney,  New  South  Wales,  on 
the  28th  of  November.  On  the  26th  of  December  the  expedition  once 
more  turned  towards  the  extreme  south,  and  the  vessels  were  ordered  to 
act  independently  of  each  other  when  arrived  in  the  regions  of  the 
designed  explorations.  • 

The  squadron  found  constant  occupation  during  the  ensuing  summer 
in  surveying  and  exploring  duties  amid  the  numerous  islands  of  the 
Southern  Archipelago.  New  Zealand,  the  Friendly  Islands,  and  the 
Feejee  group  were  visited  for  these  purposes. 

Though  prosecuting  a  work  of  peace,  and  especially  desirous  of 
establishing  permanent  relations  of  amity  with  the  barbarous  tribes  of 
the  Pacific,  in  order  to  the  greater  security  of  commerce,  still,  during 
its  stay  in  the  Feejee  group,  the  expedition  was  under  the  necessity  of 
twice  putting  in  exercise  its  military  power.  In  July  a  surveying  party, 
under  Lieutenant  Perry,  in  a  launch,  and  Mr.  Knox  in  a  first  cutter,  ran 
into  Sualib  Bay  for  shelter  during  a  storm.  In  endeavoring  to  beat  out 
again  the  cutter  ran  on  a  reef  at  low  tide,  and  it  was  found  impossible  to 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  75 

get  her  off.  The  natives  in  great  numbers,  and  well  armed,  soon  col 
lected  near,  and  commenced  a  serious  attack.  The  ammunition  in  the 
cutter  being  all  wet,  and  the  launch  being  unable  to  render  any  effective 
assistance  in  repelling  the  savages,  the  crew  abandoned  the  boat  and  went 
on  board  the  launch.  On  the  i2th  the  launch  rejoined  the  Vincennes 
and  Peacock.  Immediately  the  schooner  and  eight  boats  from  the  ships, 
with  an  extra  complement  of  seamen  and  Marines,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Lieutenants  Wilkes  and  Hudson,  proceeded  to  inflict  merited 
punishment  upon  the  natives.  They  entered  the  bay,  and  cautiously 
marched  to  the  principal  village,  meeting  with  no  resistance.  The  town, 
consisting  of  sixty  huts,  was  burned,  and  the  savages  were  taught  a 
salutary  lesson. 

A  tragical  affair  occurred  during  the  latter  part  of  July,  at  Malolo,  an 
island  of  the  same  group.  Lieutenant  Underwood,  with  a  party,  landed 
on  this  island  during  a  survey  carried  on  in  two  of  the  boats  of  the 
squadron,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Alden,  for  the  purpose  of 
ascending  a  height  to  look  for  the  Porpoise.  He  was  soon  recalled,  in 
consequence  of  some  suspicious  movements  among  the  natives,  bringing 
with  him  a  young  native,  who  was  retained  as  a  hostage.  The  next 
morning  the  same  officer  landed  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  provisions. 
The  natives  manifested  considerable  reluctance  to  trading,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Underwood  and  party  remained  some  length  of  time  on  shore  in 
unsuccessful  attempts  at  negotiation.  In  the  mean  time  Midshipman 
Henry  was  sent  to  join  those  on  shore.  'The  natives  now  began  to  col 
lect  in  greater  numbers,  and  evidently  were  not  in  a  friendly  mood. 

The  symptoms  of  an  attack  became  so  manifest  that  Lieutenant  Under 
wood  called  his  party  together  and  ordered  a  retreat  to  the  boat.  At 
the  same  time  the  hostage  suddenly  jumped  out  of  Lieutenant  Alden's 
boat  and  commenced  running  towards  the  shore.  The  report  of  fire-arms 
was  heard  on  shore,  and  it  became  evident  to  those  in  the  boats  that 
their  companions  were  engaged  in  a  serious  conflict  with  an  overpower 
ing  number  of  savages.  They  pushed  for  the  land,  and  as  soon  as  their 
fire-arms  were  effective,  the  savages  disappeared  in  a  hasty  retreat.  On 
landing  they  found  one  seaman  badly  wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Under 
wood  and  Midshipman  Henry  lying  prostrate  on  the  beach.  The  officers 
in  a  few  moments  expired ;  and  their  bodies,  rescued  from  cannibalism, 
were  borne  off  to  the  Flying-Fish,  which  was  a  few  miles  distant. 

This  unprovoked  massacre  called  for  stern  retribution.  Lieutenant- 
Commandant  Wilkes  was  himself  at  this  time  on  board  the  Flying-Fish, 
and  the  brig  Porpoise  was  also  now  in  company.  There  were  two  towns, 
Sualib  and  Arro,  situated  upon  opposite  sides  of  the  island.  The  party 
which  was  to  attack  and  destroy  these  consisted  of  seventy  officers,  sea 
men,  and  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Ringgold.  The  party  in  the  boats,  intended  to  cut  off  escape  from  the 


76  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

island  and  to  co-operate  with  the  former  party,  was  led  by  Lieutenant- 
Commandant  Wilkes. 

The  first  party  landed  without  opposition  on  the  southeast  point  of  the 
island,  destroyed  the  plantations  in  their  course,  and  crossing  over  the 
high  land,  came  in  sight  of  Sualib,  situated  on  the  southern  shore.  Here 
it  was  found  that  the  natives  were  mostly  assembled  with  the  intention 
of  defending  themselves  by  all  means  possible  to  them ;  and  their  prep 
arations  and  position  were  not  to  be  despised,  even  by  disciplined 
troops.  The  village  was  surrounded  entirely  by  a  strong  stockade  of 
cocoa-nut  trees,  placed  a  few  feet  apart,  and  filled  between  with  close 
and  substantial  wicker-work.  On  the  outside  of  this  was  a  wide  ditch, 
filled  with  water;  and  on  the  inside  a  dry  ditch,  in  which  the  defenders 
were  intrenched,  while  they  shot  through  the  loop-holes  in  the  palisade. 
The  savages  were  very  confident  in  the  impregnability  of  their  fortress, 
for  they  received  the  advancing  Americans  with  shouts  and  expressions  of 
defiance.  They  possessed  quite  a  number  of  muskets,  as  well  as  their 
ordinary  weapons.  Almost  the  entire  population  were  within  the  en 
closure,  and  the  women  and  children  were  as  defiant  and  active  in  defence 
as  the  men.  Knowing  that  an  assault  must  be  attended  with  some  loss, 
even  though  conducted  against  undisciplined  troops,  the  commander 
wisely  attacked  from  such  a  distance  as  his  means  would  permit.  A  sharp 
contest  of  about  fifteen  minutes  was  maintained,  during  which  a  chief 
and  six  of  the  savages  were  killed,  and  the  houses  within  were  fired  by  a 
rocket.  The  natives  fled,  escaping  through  a  gate  leading  towards  the 
sea.  They  were  allowed  to  retreat  without  further  attack.  A  few  of  the 
Americans  were  wounded,  but  only  one  severely.  The  town  was  entirely 
consumed. 

The  party  now  marched  northward  across  the  island  to  co-operate  with 
the  boat  party  against  Arro.  The  latter  reached  Arro  first,  and  without 
resistance  set  fire  to  and  destroyed  it.  While  these  operations  were 
going  on,  Lieutenant  Emmons  chased  five  canoes,  containing  about 
forty  native  warriors.  When  overtaken  they  offered  fight  and  made  a 
resolute  resistance.  But  four  of  them  were  finally  captured,  the  other 
escaping.  The  next  day  the  whole  force  from  the  vessels  assembled  on  a 
hill,  and  received  the  population  of  the  island,  who  sued  for  pardon. 

On  the  nth  of  August  the  expedition  left  the  Fejee  Islands,  and  in 
October  was  at  Honolulu.  The  Porpoise  and  Vincennes  left  Honolulu 
on  the  5th  of  April,  1841.  In  twenty-two  days  these  vessels  were  off  the 
bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River.  In  the  summer  of  1841  the 
Peacock,  Lieutenant-Commandant  Hudson,  while  at  Drummond's  Island, 
one  of  the  Kingsmill  group,  engaged  in  a  conflict  with  the  natives.  A 
large  party,  under  Lieutenant-Commandant  Hudson,  was  on  shore  for 
purposes  of  curiosity.  The  natives  sought  to  separate  and  entice  the  men 
in  different  directions.  They  also  pilfered  loose  articles,  and  finally 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  77 

made  actual  hostile  demonstrations.  Wishing  to  avoid  a  collision,  the 
men  were  called  together  and  returned  to  the  boats.  It  was  then  found 
that  one  man  was  missing.  Having  waited  two  days  for  news  of  the 
missing  man,  it  was  concluded  that  he  had  been  treacherously  murdered, 
and  'Lieutenant-Commandant  Hudson  determined  to  inflict  severe 
punishment  on  the  islanders.  Eighty  seamen  and  Marines  in  seven  boats 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Walker  were  landed. 

The  savages,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  and  upward,  fearlessly 
awaited  their  approach  on  the  beach,  brandishing  their  weapons  and 
showing  a  determination  to  stand  their  ground.  A  parley,  with  a 
renewed  offer  of  ransom,  was  unavailing.  A  few  shots  were  then  fired, 
bringing  down  some  of  the  chiefs,  and  a  rocket  was  discharged  into  the 
crowd,  immediately  followed  by  a  general  discharge  of  musketry,  which 
caused  a  rapid  retreat  of  the  enemy.  The  council-house  and  town  were 
reduced  to  ashes  and  twelve  of  the  natives  were  killed.  On  the  i8th  of 
July  the  Peacock  was  lost  while  endeavoring  to  enter  the  Columbia 
River.  During  the  month  of  June,  1842,  the  squadron  arrived  at  New 
York.  The  Marines  attached  to  this  expedition  were  as  follows :  Vin- 
cennes — Quartermaster's  Sergeant  Marion  A.  Stearns;  Corporals  Joseph 
Clark,  Christian  Dobleman,  Alexander  Ogle;  Privates  Allshouse,  Camp 
bell,  Disbrow,  Dunbar,  Richardson,  Roberts,  Mackenzie,  Nebhert, 
Rogers,  Taylor,  and  Ward.  Peacock — Sergeant  Joseph  Forbes ;  Corpo 
rals  Joseph  Carey,  Thomas  Dewees ;  Privates  Hughes,  Riley,  Harman, 
Smith,  Marsh,  Allman,  Pottle,  and  Crook.  Brig  Porpoise — Corporal 
W.  H.  King;  Privates  Cavanagh,  Bateman,  Lewellen. 

On  the  first  day  of  December,  1842,  Commander  Alexander  Slidell 
Mackenzie,  U.S.N.,  in  command  of  the  brig  Somers,  in  17°  34'  28" 
north  latitude  and  57°  57'  45"  west  longitude,  executed,  by  hanging, 
Philip  Spencer,  acting  midshipman  ;  Samuel  Cromwell,  boatswain's 
mate ;  and  Elisha  Small,  seaman,  for  attempted  mutiny  on  the  high 
seas. 

At  the  close  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court-martial  Commander 
Mackenzie  stated  in  his  defence  that  "the  Somers  had  no  Marines,  a 
body  of  men  distinct  from  the  crew  in  organization  and  feeling,  on 
whom,  in  ordinary  ships  of  war,  the  police  and  discipline  greatly  de 
pend,  and  who  form  a  counterpoise  and  check  to  the  turbulent  spirits  of 
common  seamen." 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Hon.  A.  P.  Upshur,  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  Commander  Mackenzie  also  made  the  following  statement  in  rela 
tion  to  Sergeant  Michael  H.  Garty,  who  was  a  passenger,  invalided 
home : 

"  Of  the  conduct  of  Sergeant  Michael  H.  Garty  I  will  only  say  that 
it  was  worthy  of  the  noble  Corps  to  which  he  has  the  honor  to  belong ; 
confined  to  his  hammock  by  a  malady  which  threatened  to  be  dangerous, 


78  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

at  the  moment  when  the  conspiracy  was  discovered,  he  rose  upon  his 
feet  a  well  man. 

"Throughout  the  whole  period,  from  the  day  of  Mr.  Spencer's  arrest 
to  the  day  after  our  arrival,  and  until  the  removal  of  the  mutineers,  his 
conduct  was  calm,  steady,  and  soldier-like.  But  when  his  duty  was  clone 
and  health  was  no  longer  indispensable  to  its  performance,  his  malady 
returned  upon  him,  and  he  is  still  in  his  hammock.  In  view  of  this  fine 
conduct,  I  respectfully  recommend  that  Sergeant  Garty  be  promoted  to 
a  second  lieutenancy  in  the  Marine  Corps.  Should  I  pass  without  dis 
honor  through  the  ordeal  that  probably  awaits  me,  and  attain  in  due 
time  to  the  command  of  a  vessel  entitled  to  a  marine  officer,  I  ask  no 
better  fortune  than  to  have  the  services  of  Sergeant  Garty  in  that 
capacity." 


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History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  8 1 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

1846-48. — War  with  Mexico,  I. — Operations  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

AT  no  time  in  our  national  history  has  the  Marine  Corps  borne  a  more 
conspicuous  or  more  honorable  part  than  during  the  Mexican  War. 
Even  before  the  news  of  the  formal  declaration  of  war  reached  the 
American  forces  on  the  frontier,  the  officers  and  men  of  the  corps  under 
the  orders  of  their  naval  superiors,  made  a  record  for  themselves  and 
for  the  nation,  of  brave,  unfaltering  courage.  General  Scott  stated,  at 
the  close  of  the  contest,  that  he  had  placed  the  Marines  where  the  hard 
est  work  was  to  be  accomplished,  and  that  he  had  never  found  his  con 
fidence  misplaced. 

The  annexation  of  Texas  required  the  defence  of  that  boundary-line 
which  she  and  the  government  of  the  United  States  claimed  as  her 
own.  Collisions  with  the  Mexican  troops  soon  occurred,  and  the  formal 
declaration  of  war  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  on  the 
1 2th  of  May,  1846,  and  on  the  part  of  Mexico  on  the  23d  of  the  same 
month. 

Commodore  Sloat  lay  at  Mazatlan,  in  the  Savannah,  in  company  with 
different  smaller  vessels,  closely  watching  the  course  of  events  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  He  had  a  line  of  active  communication  across  the 
continent,  by  means  of  different  mercantile  houses,  and  on  the  yth  of 
June  he  received,  through  that  channel,  the  information  of  the  battles  of 
Palo-Alto  and  Resaca-de-la-Palma.  Instantly  he  came  to  a  prompt  and 
wise  determination.  He  sailed  on  the  8th  for  the  norjthward,  leaving 
the  Warren  at  Mazatlan  to  wait  for  further  intelligence.  The  Savannah 
reached  Monterey  on  the  2d  of  July.  Here  the  commodore  found  the 
Cyane  and  Levant,  and  ascertained  that  the  Portsmouth  was  at  San 
Francisco.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  seamen  and  Marines  landed  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Captain  William  Mervine.  This  force  raised 
the  standard  of  the  United  States,  under  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns. 
Commodore  Sloat  took  the  necessary  measures  to  secure  his  bloodless 
conquest  by  garrisoning  the  town  with  a  force  of  Marines  under 
Lieutenant  W.  A.  T.  Maddox.  The  officers  of  the  corps  engaged  on 
this  occasion  were  Captain  Ward  Marston,  Second  Lieutenant  W.  A.  T. 
Maddox,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Henry  W.  Queen. 

Military  possession  was  on  July  9  taken  of  Yerba  Buena,  and  the 
flag  of  the  United  States  displayed.  A  proclamation  was  issued,  calling 
upon  all  the  residents  of  that  district,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  regulating  the  militia,  to  enroll  themselves  into  a  military 


82  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

company,  appoint  their  own  officers,  and  observe  such  rules  and  regula 
tions  as  should  be  issued  for  the  maintenance  of  order,  and  for  the  pro 
tection  of  property  in  Yerba  Buena  and  its  immediate  neighborhood. 
A  military  guard  was  stationed  in  possession  of  the  custom-house,  under 
Second  Lieutenant  Henry  B.  Watson  of  the  Marines,  who  was  appointed 
the  military  commandant  pro  tern,  of  all  the  Marines  and  militia.  He 
was  ordered  to  remain  in  military  possession  as  the  commander  of  the 
Marines  and  local  militia,  subject  to  orders  from  his  superior  officers. 
All  the  militia  organized  for  the  protection  of  the  place  were  required  to 
repair  to  the  appointed  rendezvous,  upon  such  signal  as  he  should  desig 
nate,  properly  armed  and  equipped,  and  he  was  directed  to  make  requi 
sition  for  such  arms  and  ammunition  as  might  be  required. 

Commodore  Stockton  sailed  in  the  Congress  on  the  ist  of  August  for 
San  Pedro.  As  the  ship  proceeded  south,  a  landing  was  made  at  Santa 
Barbara,  where  the  flag  was  shifted  and  a  small  force  of  Marines  was  left 
in  possession.  The  Congress  arrived  off  San  Pedro  *on  the  6th  of 
August.  On  the  i3th  the  commodore  made  a  junction  with  the  battalion 
of  volunteers  under  Major  Fremont,  a  brigade  of  Marines  and  seamen 
were  landed,  and  the  whole  force  entered  Los  Angeles  without  opposition 
in  the  course  of  that  day. 

Commodore  Stockton  now  determined  to  organize  a  civil  government 
for  the  entire  State.  At  the  head  of  this  government  he  placed  Major 
Fremont,  and  appointed  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Gillespie  of  the  Marines 
military  governor  and  commandant  of  the  "troops.  Having  effected 
these  arrangements,  he  returned  to  the  coast  on  the  26.  of  September, 
and  proceeded  to  Monterey,  where  everything  was  found  tranquil,  though 
rumors  were  in  circulation  of  an  intended  rising  among  the  Indians  at 
the  north.  The  Savannah  was  immediately  sent  up  the  coast,  where  she 
was  soon  joined  by  the  Congress  off  San  Francisco. 

About  the  close  of  the  month  the  Mexicans  in  the  neighborhood, 
finding  that  the  main  force  of  the  Americans  was  at  a  considerable  dis 
tance,  laid  siege  to  Los  Angeles.  The  situation  became  critical,  and 
Lieutenant  Gillespie  despatched  a  courier  to  Monterey  to  notify  the 
naval  forces  there  of  the  danger  in  which  his  command  was  placed. 
Leaving  Lieutenant  Maddox  of  the  Marines  in  command  at  Monterey, 
the  main  portion  of  the  naval  force  started  for  San  Pedro  to  raise  the 
siege  at  Los  Angeles.  Scarcely  had  they  left  Monterey  when  that  place 
was  also  threatened  with  assault.  Lieutenant  Maddox  sent  a  messenger 
to  bring  back,  if  possible,  a  portion  of  the  force  then  on  its  way  to  San 
Pedro.  By  a  fortunate  combination  of  circumstances  the  messenger 
reached  the  Congress,  then  accompanying  a  transport  of  troops  under 
Fremont  from  San  Francisco,  also  ordered  to  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant 
Gillespie.  A  sufficient  force  to  strengthen  the  position  of  Lieutenant 
Maddox  and  hold  it  against  the  Mexicans  was  sent  to  Monterey,  and  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  83 

remainder  of  the  command  proceeded  on  the  way  towards  Los  Angeles. 
It  proved  impossible,  however,  to  reach  that  place  in  season  to  be  of  any 
assistance  to  Lieutenant  Gillespie,  who  was  forced  to  capitulate.  He 
made  excellent  terms  with  the  Mexican  commander,  nevertheless,  and 
was  soon  allowed  to  join  the  main  force.  It  was  not,  however,  until 
after  a  brave  and  determined,  though  unsuccessful  effort,  had  been  made 
by  a  force  of  Marines  and  seamen  under  Captain  Mervine  of  the  Navy 
to  raise  the  siege.  Lieutenant  Gillespie  shortly  afterwards  commanded 
the  Marines,  who,  in  connection  with  the  force  of  seamen  under  Lieu 
tenant  Minor  of  the  Navy,  made  a  gallant  charge  on  the  Mexicans  at 
San  Diego,  where  the  enemy  was  driven  back  in  confusion.  About 
this  time  the  bravery  and  good  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Gillespie  were 
recognized  by  the  Department,  and  he  received  a  captain's  commission. 
He  was  shortly  afterwards  placed  in  command  of  an  expedition  to  sur 
prise  the  enemy  in  camp  at  San  Bernardo. 

Important  events  at  this  period  followed  each  other  in  rapid  and 
almost  confusing  succession.  Before  Captain  Gillespie's  expedition  was 
prepared  to  start  on  its  arduous  work,  Brigadier-General  Kearney  ar 
rived  in  California  to  take  command  of  the  land  forces.  Captain  Gil 
lespie's  force  was  immediately  ordered  to  make  a  junction  with  Kearney's 
dragoons.  Before  the  junction  could  be  made,  Kearney  made  an  attack 
on  the  enemy  at  San  Pasqual,  and  received  a  crushing  defeat,  the 
Americans  losing  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded,  Kearney  himself 
being  among  the  latter.  The  rapid  march  of  Commodore  Stockton's 
force  to  San  Gabriel  and  the  overwhelming  defeat  of  the  enemy  at  that 
point  followed.  The  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps  who  participated  in 
these  operations  were  Captain  Gillespie,  Lieutenant  J.  Zeilin,  Lieutenant 
J.  C.  Cash,  Lieutenant  W.  A.  T.  Maddox,  and  Lieutenant  James  Wiley. 

On  the  2Qth  of  December,  in  consequence  of  a  number  of  Californians 
having  taken  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  and  taken  Lieutenant 
Bartlett,  United  States  Navy,  six  seamen,  and  others,  prisoners,  an  ex 
pedition,  consisting  of  a  detachment  of  Marines,  under  Lieutenant 
Tansill,  a  field-piece  in  charge  of  Passed-Midshipman  D.  Jones,  the  San 
Jos£  mounted  volunteers,  under  Captain  Weber,  and  the  San  Francisco 
mounted  volunteers,  under  Captain  William  M.  Smith,  and  Assistant 
Surgeon  M.  Duvall,  acting  surgeon  and  aid,  the  whole  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  Ward  Marston,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  amounting 
in  all  to  one  hundred  and  one  officers  and  men,  left  San  Francisco  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  On  the  2d  of  January,  1847,  when  within  about 
seven  miles  of  the  mission  of  Santa  Clara,  and  distant  some  fifty  miles 
from  San  Francisco,  the  enemy  were  discovered,  at  first  few  in  number, 
but  increasing  to  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  all  mounted  on  the 
best  horses.  This  force  was  driven  back  about  two  miles,  when  the 
Americans  found  their  advance  impeded  by  a  deep  marsh,  and  in  attempt- 

6 


84  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

ing  to  cross  it,  the  Marines  and  those  in  front  were  over  their  knees  in 
mud.  While  in  this  position,  the  enemy  attemped  to  drive  down  about 
five  hundred  wild  cattle  to  break  the  ranks,  and  some  twenty-five  Cali- 
fornians  came  within  range  of  the  gun  and  opened  fire  on  the  Americans. 
At  this  time  Captains  Smith  and  Marston  distinguished  themselves  by 
securing  the  spare  horses  of  the  enemy  which  became  frightened.  Cap 
tain  Marston  ordered  the  Marines  to  open  on  the  cattle,  and  the  gun  to 
open  on  the  Californians,  and  Lieutenant  Tansill  and  Passed-Midshipman 
D.  Jones  displayed  great  activity  in  executing  this  order,  which  resulted 
in  driving  the  Californians  and  their  auxiliaries  from  the  field.  That 
evening  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  by  the  Californians,  asking,  on  the 
part  of  Colonel  Sanches,  their  commander,  an  interview  with  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  Americans,  each  to  be  accompanied  by  two  officers. 
Accordingly,  the  next  morning  Captain  Marston,  accompanied  by  Cap 
tain  Smith  and  Surgeon  Duvall,  proceeded  to  the  appointed  place  of 
meeting.  Colonel  Sanches  then  laid  before  Captain  Marston  a  series  of 
complaints  of  abuses  which  the  Californians  had  experienced,  and  also 
professed  a  perfect  willingness  on  their  part 'to  surrender  and  retire  to 
their  homes,  if  they  could  be  assured  of  future  protection.  As  Captain 
Marston  had  no  authority  to  treat  with  him,  he  proposed  an  armistice 
till  he  could  communicate  with  the  commander  of  the  district  and  re 
ceive  his  instructions,  which  was  readily  agreed  to,  and  a  messenger  de 
spatched  to  San  Francisco.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  armistice,  the 
Americans  were  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  Captain  Maddox's  company 
of  Monterey  mounted  volunteers.  An  answer  was  received  on  the  6th 
of  January,  saying  the  only  conditions  with  which  the  Californians  could 
be  treated  were  for  them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  surrender  their  prison 
ers  and  horses,  and  retire  to  their  homes,  all  of  which  were  complied 
with  on  the  following  day.  In  the  action  of  the  2cl  of  January,  the 
Americans  had  two  wounded, — a  Marine  and  one  of  Captain  Weber's 
men.  The  Californians  admitted  that  eleven  of  their  men  were  hit  in 
their  clothing,  but  were  uninjured,  which  they  attributed  to  the  justice 
of  their  cause  and  the  interposition  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  for  which 
they  celebrated  mass  in  the  church  of  Santa  Clara.  It  was  ascertained 
afterwards  that  their  loss  was  four  killed  and  five  wounded. 

1847. — In  a  general  order,  issued  February  i,  1847,  Commodore  Shu- 
brick  said.  "For  disinterested  conduct,  the  company  of  mounted  vol 
unteers,  under  Lieutenant  Maddox  of  the  Marine  Corps,  acting  as  captain, 
is  tendered  the  thanks  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  will  without  doubt 
receive  applause  and  due  recompense  from  the  general  government." 

In  September,  1847,  Lieutenant  Maddox  was  appointed  military  com 
mandant  of  the  Middle  Department  by  Commodore  Stockton.  Subse 
quently,  in  a  letter  to  General  Henderson,  Commodore  Stockton  wrote : 
"It  is  my  duty  as  well  as  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Lieutenant  Maddox 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  85 

was  in  command  of  the  Middle  Department  in  California  and  at  Mon 
terey  when  the  insurrection  broke  out  in  that  country,  and  that  his  zeal 
and  gallantry  were  conspicuous  in  his  efforts  to  suppress  it.  It  would  be 
no  more  than  justice  if  his  services  there  should  be  acknowledged  by  a 
brevet." 

In  November,  1847,  tne  Dale,  Commander  Selfridge,  was  sent  to 
Guaymas  to  relieve  Commander  Montgomery,  in  the  Portsmouth,  the 
latter  vessel  joining  the  main  squadron.  The  flag  was  now  flying  at  La 
Paz,  in  the  province  of  Lower  California,  protected  by  a  detachment  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  men  of  a  regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Burton.  In  the  month  of  Novem 
ber  it  was  also  hoisted  at  San  Jose,  in  the  same  province,  while  the  flag 
ship  was  off  that  place,  and  Lieutenant  Charles  Heywood,  with  four 
passed  midshipmen  and  twenty  Marines,  was  placed  in  command  of  this 
post.  He  was  also  furnished  with  a  9-pounder  carronade,  and  some  fire 
arms  to  be  loaned  in  an  emergency  to  friendly  Californians.  He  posted 
his  force  in  an  old  mission-house,  situated  on  the  higher  portion  of  the 
town. 

Commodore  Shubrick  on  the  loth  of  November  appeared  off  Mazatlan, 
a  town  of  about  eleven  thousand  inhabitants,  occupied  by  Colonel  Telles, 
with  a  force  of  twelve  hundred  men.  On  the  morning  of  the  nth  a 
force  of  six  hundred  seamen  and  Marines  landed  and  captured  the  place, 
Colonel  Telles  with  his  whole  force  retreating  on  the  approach  of  the 
Americans.  The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  present :  Inde 
pendence,  Lieutenant  W.  W.  Russell;  Congress,  First  Lieutenant  J. 
Zeilin  ;  and  a  detachment  from  the  Cyane  under  Sergeant  Forrest  (the 
remainder  of  the  guard  being  on  duty  at  San  Jose"). 

The  Dale  arrived  at  Guaymas  on  the  8th  of  November,  and  relieved 
the  Portsmouth  from  the  duty  of  guarding  that  post.  The  enemy's  forces 
in  this  vicinity  had  now  increased  to  a  considerable  amount,  being  prob 
ably  not  less  than  a  thousand  men.  Commander  Selfridge  had  not  men 
enough  to  garrison  the  town,  so  that  the  flag  was  kept  flying  on  an  island 
under  the  guns  of  his  ship.  On  the  lyth  of  November,  Commander 
Selfridge,  supposing  that  there  were  none  of  the  enemy  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood,  landed  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  sixty-five  Marines  and 
seamen.  They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  were  assailed  with  a 
volley  of  musketry  from  a  house.  A  ball  wounded  Commander  Selfridge 
severely  in  the  foot,  and  the  command  was  relinquished  to  Lieutenant 
Smith.  The  latter  officer  found  himself  engaged  with  three  hundred  of 
the  enemy.  The  fire  of  the  little  force  of  Marines  and  seamen  was,  how 
ever,  delivered  with  such  rapidity  and  precision  that  the  enemy  soon 
began  to  retreat  precipitately.  The  Mexicans  evacuated  the  town  in  all 
possible  haste.  In  this  creditable  action  the  Americans  suffered  no  injury, 
with  the  exception  of  the  wound  of  the  commander;  while  the  loss  of 


86  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

the  enemy  was  not  less  than  thirty  killed  and  wounded.     The  Marines 
were  commanded  by  Second  Lieutenant  Robert  Tansill. 

The  Mexicans  who  had  landed  at  Muleje,  and  whom  Commander  Sel- 
fridge  had  so  gallantly  driven  into  the  interior,  passed  through  the  coun 
try,  exciting  hostility  to  the  American  rule,  and  drawing  the  disaffected 
to  their  ranks.  On  the  I9th  of  November  a  large  body  of  the  enemy 
came  within  a  league  of  the  post  established  at  San  Jose,  which  was  occu 
pied  by  Lieutenant  Heywood,  with  four  officers  and  twenty  Marines.  He 
had  also  organized  and  armed  about  twenty  volunteers.  The  position 
occupied  consisted  of  two  houses,  the  one  an  old  mission-house,  which 
had  to  be  strengthened  and  repaired  to  make  it  defensible,  and  the  other 
a  private  house,  so  closely  adjoining  that  it  was  necessary  to  occupy  it  lest 
it  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  In  the  latter  Mr.  McLana- 
han  was  stationed  with  twelve  volunteers.  At  the  mission  a  Q-pounder  was 
mounted,  and  loop-holes  left  for  musketry. 

The  main  body  of  the  enemy  took  up  a  position  on  an  eminence 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  mounted  men,  and  commenced  the  attack  late  in  the  day  by  a  fire 
from  a  6-pounder.  About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  the  whole  body  of  the 
enemy  commenced  an  attack  upon  the  front  and  rear  of  both  houses. 
Their  fire  was  vigorous,  but  was  returned  as  vigorously  by  the  little  gar 
rison.  Their  cannon  was  posted  in  front  of  the  main  building,  where  it 
was  replied  to  by  the  9-pounder.  The  defence  was  so  effectual  that 
the  enemy  were  glad  to  cover  themselves  behind  the  neighboring  build 
ings,  and  thus  the  combat  was  continued  throughout  the  night ;  and  by 
the  morning  the  enemy  retired  to  their  camp.  The  next  night  the 
Mexicans  were  again  in  motion.  They  now  concluded  to  undertake  the 
capture  of  the  mission-house  by  assault.  In  executing  this  movement,  a 
strong  party  rushed  up  towards  the  front  of  the  house,  with  the  intention 
of  forcing  their  way  in  and  capturing  the  gun.  But  a  destructive  dis 
charge  of  musketry  brought  down  their  leader  and  several  of  their  num 
ber,  when  they  broke  and  fled.  This  repulse  in  front  intimidate'd  the 
party  in  the  rear,  who  were  approaching  with  ladders  to  scale  the  walls, 
and  they  were  thus  easily  driven  back.  The  Mexican  loss  amounted  to 
eight  killed  and  twenty  wounded,  while  the  casualties  of  the  garrison 
amounted  to  three  wounded. 

1848. — In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1848  San  Jose  became  the  scene 
of  very  active  military  operations.  On  the  22d  of  January  a  small  de-' 
tachment  of  Lieutenant  Heywood's  command,  consisting  of  two  officers 
and  six  men,  were  captured  on  the  beach  by  a  large  party  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry.  The  enemy  had  concentrated  his  forces,  amounting  to  three  or 
four  hundred  men,  around  the  position  held  at  San  Jose.  The  defence 
of  this  position  rested  with  a  garrison  of  twenty-seven  marines,  ten  sea 
men,  and  twenty  California  volunteers.  The  town  was  deserted  by  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  87 

inhabitants,  and  about  fifty  women  and  children  sought  protection  in 
the  imperfect  fort,  and  were  supported  from  its  scanty  supplies.  In  the 
latter  part  of  January  the  Mexicans  appeared  in  force.  On  the  4th  of 
February  they  drew  their  lines  quite  closely  around  the  fort  and  fired 
upon  all  who  showed  themselves.  From  this  day  until  the  i4th  of  the 
month  this  large  force  kept  up  a  constant,  harassing  fire  upon  the  little 
garrison.  Several  sorties  were  made,  but,  notwithstanding,  the  invest 
ment  of  the  post  became  closer  and  closer,  until  on  the  i4th  the  supply 
of  water  began  to  fail.  The  garrison  also  suffered  the  loss  of  Mr. 
McLanahan,  who  was  wounded  and  died  in  a  few  hours.  In  the  after 
noon  of  the  1 4th  the  Cyane  anchored  off  the  town,  and  the  interest  of 
the  battle  now  turned  in  this  direction. 

At  the  dawn  of  day,  on  the  i5th,  the  boats  of  the  Cyane  were  seen 
moving  towards  the  shore.  They  contained  one  hundred  and  two  officers, 
seamen,  and  Marines  under  Commander  Du  Pont.  As  the  Mexicans 
possessed  the  advantage  of  the  covers  along  the  road,  they  were  able  to 
keep  up  an  annoying  flank  and  rear  fire  upon  the  advancing  Americans. 
Still  the  latter  moved  steadily  on,  driving  their  opponents  back  at  every 
point,  or  giving  them  volleys  of  musketry  to  the  right  and  left.  Those 
in  the  ship  were  unable  to  render  any  assistance,  as  it  was  impossible  to 
separate  friend  from  foe.  But  the  garrison  could  not  curb  their  impa 
tience,  and  soon  sallied  out  to  form  a  junction  with  their  companions. 
A  party  of  the  enemy  were  still  firing  upon  the  fort,  but  the  charge  led 
by  Lieutenant  Heywood  drove  them  from  the  street  they  occupied  and 
opened  the  way  for  the  union  of  the  two  detachments.  Just  before  this 
union  was  effected,  the  enemy  made  a  final  stand  and  sought  by  great 
exertions  to  maintain  his  ground.  But  it  was  all  in  vain,  and  the  shout 
of  victory  was  raised  just  as  Lieutenant  Heywood  joined  the  party  of 
his  welcome  friends.  The  enemy  lost  thirty  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 
The  casualties  to  Lieutenant  Heywood's  command  during  the  siege  were 
three  killed  and  four  wounded. 

On  the  1 4th,  Lieutenant  Stanley  of  the  Dale  landed  at  Guaymas  with  a 
force  of  Marines  and  seamen,  and  marched  to  the  attack  of  the  post  of 
Bacochi  Vampa.  The  barracks  were  situated  on  a  spur  of  the  mountain 
facing  the  west,  stony  and  bushy,  which  rendered  a  near  approach  with 
out  discovery  impossible.  As  soon  as  the  sentinel  hailed  them,  according 
to  previous  arrangement,  they  charged  in  double-quick  time.  But  duty 
and  ambition  could  not  take  them  up  to  the  barracks  as  fast  as  fear 
carried  the  flying  enemy  away.  They  made  but  one  prisoner;  several  of 
the  others  left  their  arms,  ammunition,  accoutrements,  and  stores,  and 
one  officer  the  best  part  of  his  uniform. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  information  of  a  provisional  suspension  of  hostilities 
on  the  part  of  the  main  army  in  Mexico,  Commodore  Shubrick  entered 
into  a  similar  arrangement,  and  withdrew  the  garrison  from  Mazatlan, 


88  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

leaving  a  few  Marines  to  guard  the  works  until  the  establishment  of  a 
definitive  treaty  of  peace.  Until  the  close  of  the  war,  therefore,  the 
duty  of  the  naval  force  was  confined  to  the  maintenance  of  the  positions 
already  held. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  report  of  Commodore  Shubrick, 
commanding  Pacific  Squadron,  dated  on  board  the  Independence,  Ma- 
zatlan,  February  21  :  "  The  Marines  have  behaved  with  the  fidelity  and 
constancy  which  characterizes  that  valuable  Corps,  and  I  embrace  this 
opportunity  respectfully  to  recommend  that  ships  coming  to  this  station 
be  allowed  as  large  a  complement  of  these  valuable  men  as  possible.  The 
service  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  doubling  the  number  allowed  to 
each  ship,  and  reducing  to  the  same  extent,  if  necessary,  the  comple 
ment  of  landsmen  and  ordinary  seamen.  The  want  of  Marines  is  strongly 
felt  in  all  operations  on  shore." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Corps  attached  to  the 
squadron  on  the  Pacific  coast  in  1 846-48. 

Frigate  Savannah,  Captain  Ward  Marston,  Second  Lieutenant  Henry 
W.  Queen ;  frigate  Constitution,  Second  Lieutenant  Joseph  W.  Curtis ; 
frigate  Congress,  First  Lieutenant  J.  Zeilin  ;  sloop  Portsmouth,  Second 
Lieutenant  Henry  B.  Watson  ;  sloop  Cyane,  Second  Lieutenant  W.  A.  T. 
Maddox;  Independence,  Captain  James  Edelin,  Second  Lieutenant 
William  W.  Russell ;  sloop  Dale,  Second  Lieutenant  Robert  Tansill ; 
First  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Gillespie,  on  special  service ;  Columbus,  Captain 
Henry  Btf  Tyler,  First  Lieutenant  W.  A.  T.  Maddox,  Second  Lieutenant 
John  C.  Cash  ;  Ohio,  Captain  J.  L.  C.  Hardy,  Second  Lieutenant  James 
A.  Buchanan,  Second  Lieutenant  James  Wiley. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

1846-48. — War  with  Mexico,  II. — Naval  Operations  on  the  East  Coast  of  Mexico. 

WHEN  hostilities  commenced,  Commodore  Conner  was  in  command 
of  the  Gulf  Squadron.  Instructions  were  at  once  issued  to  him  to  em 
ploy  his  command  in  the  blockade  of  the  Mexican  ports.  These  orders 
were  issued  on  the  i3th  of  May,  1846. 

While  the  Marines  connected  with  the  naval  force  on  the  west  coast 
were  doing  such  excellent  service,  the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  the 
Corps  and  attached  to  this  squadron  were  also  aiding  materially  in  the 
work  going  on  in  that  section.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of 
the  Corps  attached  to  the  Gulf  Squadron,  in  1846,  Commodore  David 
Conner,  commander-in-chief :  Frigate  Cumberland,  First  Lieutenant  D. 


History  of  the  United  Stales  Marine  Corps.  89 

D.  Baker;  frigate  Raritan,  First  Lieutenant  William  Lang;  frigate 
Potomac,  First  Lieutenant  Addison  Garland  ;  sloop  John  Adams,  First 
Lieutenant  R.  C.  Caldwell ;  sloop  St.  Mary's,  Second  Lieutenant  John 
D.  Simms.  In  1847,  tne  list  °f  officers  attached  to  the  squadron  was 
as  follows:  Frigate  Raritan,  Captain  Alvin  Edson,  Second  Lieutenant 
George  Adams;  frigate  Potomac,  First  Lieutenant  Addison  Garland; 
sloop  Albany,  Second  Lieutenant  William  B.  Black;  sloop  John 
Adams,  First  Lieutenant  Robert  C.  Caldwell,  Second  Lieutenant  Felix 
G.  Mayson  ;  sloop  St.  Mary's,  Second  Lieutenant  John  D.  Simms. 
The  following  were  the  officers  attached  to  the  same  squadron,  Commo 
dore  M.  C.  Perry,  commander-in-chief,  in  1848:  Frigate  Cumberland, 
First  Lieutenant  Isaac  T.  Doughty,  Second  Lieutenant  Jacob  Read ; 
sloop  Albany,  Second  Lieutenant  William  Butterfield;  steamer  Missis 
sippi,  First  Lieutenant  William  B.  Slack,  Second  Lieutenant  William  F. 
Perry., 

On  the  1 8th  of  May  a  detachment  of  two  hundred  Marines  and  sea 
men  from  the"  Cumberland  and  Potomac,  under  the  orders  of  Captain 
Aulick,  sailed  up  the  Rio  Grande  in  the  boats  of  the  ships,  and  effected 
a  junction  with  a  detachment  of  the  army  at  Barita,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river,  and  about  fifteen  miles  from  its  mouth.  At  this  point  they 
established  a  post  without  any  opposition,  and  on  the  same  day  the  army 
under  General  Taylor  crossed  the  river  and  entered  Matamoras.  The 
officers  of  the  Corps  engaged  in  this  expedition  were  First  Lieutenant 
D.  D.  Baker  and  First  Lieutenant  Addison  Garland. 

The  first  work  of  importance  in  which  the  Marines  of  the  home 
squadron  were  engaged  was  in  October,  in  connection  with  Commodore 
M.  C.  Perry's  expedition  up  the  Tobasco  River,  which  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  Frontera  and  Tobasco.  The  expedition  sailed  on  the  i6th 
of  October,  and  arrived  off  the  mouth  of  the  Tobasco  on  the  23d. 
The  town  of  Frontera  was  taken  without  serious  resistance,  with  several 
sailing  vessels  and  two  steamers.  On  the  25th,  Tobasco  was  reached, 
and  the  squadron  anchored  in  order  of  battle,  abreast  of  the  town,  with 
in  half-musket  range.  A  messenger  was  sent  on  shore  with  a  summons 
to  the  governor  to  surrender.  An  insolent  answer  was  returned,  and  an 
invitation  sent  back  to  the  commander  to  fire  as  soon  as  he  pleased. 
Commodore  Perry  was  extremely  reluctant  to  destroy  the  town  and  to 
subject  the  inhabitants  to  the  miseries  of  a  bombardment.  It  was  neces 
sary,  however,  to  make  some  demonstration  of  his  power,  and  he  con 
sequently  began  a  bombardment,  which  was  kept  up  till  the  bravado  of 
the  official  was  thoroughly  punished,  after  which  Commodore  Perry 
took  his  departure. 

The  Mississippi,  with  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  seamen  and  Marines 
from  the  Cumberland  and  the  Princeton,  put  to  sea  on  the  i2th  of  Novem 
ber.  At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th  the  force  reached  the  bar 


90  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

of  Tampico.  A  detachment  of  three  hundred  officers,  Marines,  and  sea-* 
men  in  boats  were  carried  over  the  bar  safely,  and  passed  into  the  river 
without  opposition,  the  fort  at  the  entrance  having  been  abandoned.  On 
approaching  the  town  it  surrendered.  The  Marines  and  seamen  were  not 
landed.  The  officers  of  the  corps  engaged  in  this  expedition  were  First 
Lieutenant  D.  D.  Baker,  First  Lieutenant  William  Lang,  First  Lieutenant 
Addison  Garland,  and  Second  Lieutenant  J.  D.  Simms. 

1847. — During  the  autumn  a  plan  was  marked  out  which  contemplated 
the  reduction  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  march  of  a  large  army  to  the  capital. 
Accordingly,  the  following  year  opened  with  very  extensive  and  active 
preparations  for  the  attack.  On  the  coast  of  Mexico  was  soon  assembled 
what  was  up  to  that  time  the  largest  force  ever  under  the  command  of  a 
single  American  naval  officer.  The  debarkation  was  appointed  to  take 
place  on  the  8th  of  March.  General  orders  ware  therefore  issued  on  the 
7th,  by  the  commodore  and  the  commanding-general,  prescribing  the 
necessary  arrangements.  The  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps  who  were 
attached  to  the  battalion  in  the  operations  before  Vera  Cruz  were  Cap 
tain  Alvin  Edson,  First  Lieuteant  Addison  Garland,  First  Lieutenant 
Robert  C.  Caldwell,  Second  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Slack,  Second  Lieutenant 
J.  D.  Simms,  Second  Lieutenant  George  Adams,  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Felix  G.  Mayson.  During  the  siege,  a  detachment  of  officers  and  sailors 
were  assigned  a  place  in  the  trenches,  and  did  noble  service.  The 
Marines  behaved  with  their  accustomed  gallantry,  and  shared  the  honors 
with  their  gallant  brethren  of  the  army  and  Navy.  On  the  2pth  of  March 
the  combined  forces  of  the  army  and  Navy  took  possession  of  the  city 
and  castle,  while  the  American  fhg  floated  over  both,  amid  a  grand  salute 
from  the  squadron  and  the  batteries.  The  following  is  an  extract  from 
Commodore  Conner's  report,  dated  on  board  the  Raritan,  off  Sacrificios, 
March  10,  1874:  ''General  Scott  has  now  with  him  upward  of  eleven 
thousand  men.  At  his  request,  I  permitted  the  Marines  of  the  squadron, 
under  Captain  Edson,  to  join  him,  as  a  part  of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
artillery."  On  the  28th  of  March,  Brigadier-General  Worth  issued  the 
following:  "The  general  of  brigade  avails  himself  of  the  occasion  on 
separating  from  Captain  Edson,  his  officers,  and  men  to  express  his  high 
appreciation  of  the  energy,  zeal,  and  thorough  soldiership  which,  marked 
their  effective  co-operation  during  our  association,  and  also  to  tender  his 
cordial  thanks  and  respects." 

Commodore  Perry  relieved  Commodore  Conner  on  the  2ist  of  March, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  a  movement  against  Tuspan.  On  the  morning 
of  the  i8th  of  April,  after  all  due  preparations  had  been  made,  the  whole 
force  was  detached  from  the  ship,  forming  the  landing  party,  and  carried 
in  barges,  numbering  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety  officers,  sea 
men,  and  Marines,  with  four  pieces  of  light  artillery.  The  whole  was  led 
by  Commodore  Perry.  The  Mexicans  made  but  a  feeble  defence.  They 


History  of  tlie  United  States  Marine  Corps.  91 

rapidly  fell  back,  deserting  the  batteries  before  the  landing  party  could 
get  near  enough  to  storm  them.  The  attack  proved  entirely  successful, 
and  the  capture  was  effected,  with  a  loss  to  the  Americans  of  only  three 
seamen  killed  and  five  officers  and  six  men  wounded.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps  engaged  in  this  expedition  : 
Captain  Alvin  Edson,  First  Lieutenant  Addison  Garland,  First  Lieu 
tenant  Robert  C.  Caldwell,  First  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Slack,  Second  Lieu 
tenant  M.  R.  Kintzing,  Second  Lieutenant  George  Adams,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Felix  G.  Mayson. 

Some  six  months  had  elapsed  since  the  affair  at  Tobasco,  when  news 
reached  Commodore  Perry  that  matters  at  that  town  had  assumed  such  a 
phase  that  the  presence  of  an  American  force  was  needed  to  compel  a 
proper  respect  for  the  authority  of  the  United  States.  Early  in  June,  he 
started  with  a  formidable-  force.  The  officers  of  the  Corps  engaged  in 
this  expedition  were  Captain  Alvin  Edson,  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Slack, 
Lieutenant  M.  R.  Kintzing,  Lieutenant  Robert  C.  Caldwell,  Second 
Lieutenant  George  Adams,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Felix  G.  Mayson. 
The  expedition  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tobasco  River,  and,  after 
various  adventures,  reached  a  point  below  Tobasco,  when  a  landing  was 
made.  The  force  on  shore  marched  to  attack  the  town  by  land,  while 
the  vessels  advanced  to  lay  siege  from  the  river. 

The  Scorpion  pushed  on  up  the  stream,  and,  upon  arriving  off  the  town, 
Captain  Bigelow  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  place  from  the  authorities, 
which  was  acceded  to.  The  officer  sent  to  hoist  the  American  colors, 
while  in  the  act  of  unfurling  it  to  the  breeze  from  the  top  of  the  govern 
ment  house,  was  fired  upon  several  times,  one  ball  passing  through  the  flag, 
but  he  escaped  untouched.  About  three  hours  after  the  stars  and  stripes 
had  floated  over  the  town  and  port,  the  land  expedition,  which  it  had 
been  supposed  would  have  the  chief  part  of  the  honor  and  glory  of  taking 
the  place,  came  in  sight  of  the  fort,  when  to  their  surprise  they  beheld 
the  flag  waving  over  it,  which  told  them  they  were  too  late,  the  work 
having  been  done  by  their  more  fortunate  friends  attached  to  the  flotilla. 
The  commodore  remained  until  the  22d  inst.,  and  then  left  to  rejoin  the 
squadron  outside  the  bar,  leaving  as  the  garrison  of  the  place  two  officers 
of  Marines  and  sixty-nine  men  under  Lieutenant  Slack,  besides  the  bomb 
brig  y£tna  and  steamers  Spitfire  and  Scourge,  anchored  off  the  town. 
Captain  Van  Brunt  of  the  ^Etna  was  left  as  governor,  and  Lieutenant 
Slack  as  military  commandant.  On  the  24th  inst.  two  field-pieces  were 
landed,  which,  with  the  one  already  ashore,  were  placed  in  battery  in 
the  main  plaza  commanding  the  various  entrances  to  it ;  the  guard, 
twenty-eight  men,  were  quartered  there,  and  the  balance  of  the  sixty- 
nine  Marines,  under  Lieutenant  Adams,  were  ordered  to  march  directly 
to  the  square  in  the  event  of  an  alarm.  Two  of  the  pieces  were  manned 
by  eight  sailors,  each  under  their  respective  officers ;  the  third  piece  was 


92  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

manned  with  seven  Marines,  under  charge  of  a  corporal,  they  having 
formerly  served  in  the  artillery. 

On  that  very  night,  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock,  an  effort  was  made 
to  drive  them  in  from  the  plaza  by  about  two  hundred  Mexicans  divided 
in  two  parties,  the  one  large,  the  other  small,  the  latter  to  be  the  feint 
and  the  former  the  real  attack,  led  on  by  Colonel  Garcia,  an  officer  of 
some  talent  and  considerable  courage.  The  sentries,  being  fired  upon 
by  the  small  body,  retired  and  joined  the  guard,  the  large  body  in  the 
mean  time  pressing  on  in  another  direction  to  gain  an  old  dilapidated 
building  facing  the  square,  from  which  they  evidently  expected  to  do. 
some  telling  work. 

The  guard  was  under  arms  in  front  of  the  guard-house,  and  as  every 
man  stood  thus  at  his  post,  a  volley  of  musketry  from  the  old  building 
was  fired  at  them  ;  instantly  the  three  pieces  opened  fire  on  the  building. 
The  enemy  was  silenced  in  a  few  minutes.  From  that  time  forward 
troops  could  be  seen  every  day  outside  the  city  limits  moving  from  one 
point  to  another,  and  at  night  the  sentinels  were  sure  to  be  fired  upon 
from  various  points,  thus  causing  all  hands  to  be  continually  under  arms. 

On  the  night  of  July  26,  Captain  Bigelow  of  the  Scorpion  arrived  from 
the  squadron,  intending  to  return  almost  immediately,  but  upon  being 
informed  by  Captain  Van  Brunt  of  the  state  of  affairs  ashore,  he  de 
termined  to  remain  and  despatch  a  boat  to  the  commodore,  advising 
him  of  the  necessity  of  a  reinforcement.  On  the  2pth  the  Vixen  re 
turned,  bringing  an  increase  in  force  of  fifty-five  Marines  and  fifty 
sailors.  Captain  Bigelow  now  determined  to  fit  out  an  expedition  and 
beat  up  the  enemy's  quarters  wherever  he  could  be  found.  Accordingly, 
on  the  3oth,  he  left  Tobasco  with  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
sailors  as  small-arm  men,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  Marines,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Slack,  and  two  field-pieces  (6-pounders),  and,  from  information  in 
his  possession  of  the  enemy's  whereabouts,  moved  for  an  Indian  village 
about  four  miles  distant  called  Tamulte.  Just  before  arriving  at  the 
village,  and  while  ascending  a  gentle  acclivity,  a  fire  of  musketry  was 
opened  by  a  body  of  troops  occupying  the  summit,  and  mostly  covered 
from  view  by  a  growth  of  underwood.  This  fire  was  handsomely  returned 
by  the  Marines,  and  the  two  pieces  of  artillery  were  soon  brought  into 
position.  For  about  twenty  minutes  a  constant  and  general  firing  was 
maintained  on  both  sides,  until  finally  the  Mexicans  began  to  give  way, 
at  first  slowly,  but  soon  rapidly  retreated.  Throughout  the  fight  Captain 
Bigelow  and  Lieutenant  Slack  acted  with  a  courage  and  judgment  worthy 
of  all  praise.  During  the  action  the  Americans  lost  two  men  killed  and 
two  wounded,  one  severely  and  the  other  slightly.  Lieutenant  Kintzing 
was  also  slightly  wounded  by  a  spent  ball,  and  two  men  were  badly 
burned  by  the  accidental  explosion  of  powder  in  a  building.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  was  not  ascertained. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  93 

After  the  above  fight,  for  a  day  or  two  they  were  relieved  from  all 
annoyances  from  the  enemy,  but  the  latter  soon  again  began  the  old 
system -of  night  attacks,  and  finally,  on  the  i4th  and  i5th  of  July, 
during  the  day,  went  into  camp,  and  from  a  hill  within  range  of  the 
plaza  fired  upon  the  Americans.  The  latter  drove  them  out,  and  en 
deavored  to  pursue  them,  but  their  better  knowledge  of  the  country  en 
abled  them  to  escape  easily.  Among  the  Americans  the  sick-list  began 
to  increase  very  rapidly,  and  soon  one-half  the  men  were  down.  The 
commodore,  being  informed  of  the  extent  of  sickness  prevailing,  deter 
mined  finally  to  abandon  the  place.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of 
the  22d  of  July,  the  colors  were  hauled  down,  the  Marines  paying  the 
proper  salute  upon  the  occasion.  The  Americans  then  left  the  plaza, 
marching  in  column  to  the  air  of  "  Hail  Columbia,"  and  embarked  on 
board  the  vessels  bound  down  the  river. 

In  a  communication  to  the  Department,  dated  on  board  the  Mississippi, 
July  28,  Commodore  Perry  wrote:  "In  transmitting  the  accompanying 
correspondence,  I  feel  myself  called  upon  to  invite  the  attention  of  the 
Department  to  the  zeal  and  gallantry  with  which  Commander  Bigelow, 
Commander  Van  Brunt,  and  all  the  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  the 
detachment  left  by  me  at  Tobasco  performed  their  arduous  duties  in 
defending  the  city  against  a  most  active  enemy." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  report  of  Commodore  Perry, 
dated  United  States  flag-ship  Mississippi,  Anton  Lizardo,  July  4,  1847  : 
"  Since  the  receipt  of  your  despatch  of  the  2ist  of  May,  received  on  the 
ist  inst.,  I  have  had  an  interview  with  Brigadier-General  Pierce,  whose 
brigade  the  Marines  ordered  to  be  detached  from  the  squadron  are  to 
join.  General  Pierce  has  fully  agreed  with  me  that  the  small  force  of 
Marines  in  the  squadron,  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  effective  men, 
will  be  of  little  advantage  to  him,  and  that  the  consequences  of  with 
drawing  them,  and  the  necessity  of  the  immediate  evacuation  of  Tobasco, 
and  of  weakening  other  posts  in  our  possession  (measures  that  will  be 
rendered  indispensable  by  the  detachment  of  the  Marines  from  the 
squadron),  will  produce  a  most  pernicious  influence  with  the  enemy, 
who  always  claim  as  a  triumph  any  retrograde  movement  of  ours.  I  beg 
to  be  understood  that  the  order  of  the  2ist  of  May  will  be  obeyed  in 
part  immediately,  however  it  may  inconvenience  the  ships  of  the  squad 
ron  ;  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  Marines  from  Tobasco,  Laguna,  Fron- 
tera,  and  Alvarado  will  be  postponed  only  till  I  can  receive  a  reply  to 
this  communication  or  hear  sooner  from  the  Department  on  the  subject. 
This  arrangement  can  produce  very  little  delay,  as  it  will  require  con 
siderable  time  to  collect  together  the  Marines,  dispersed  as  they  are 
along  the  coast,  at  points  the  extremes  of  which  embrace  a  distance  of 
nearly  six  hundred  miles  in  extent.  I  shall  await  with  much  interest 
your  communications,  and  hope  that  you  .will  not  only  soon  be  able  to 


94  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

replace   the  Marines  withdrawn    from   the  squadron,  but  add  to  their 
number." 

It  is  stated  that  General  Pierce  urged  the  commodore  to  "take  the 
responsibility"  of  retaining  his  Marines  and  holding  his  captured  places, 
and  offered  a  letter  expressive  of  his  conclusion  and  judgment  to  this 
end,  which  the  commodore  said  was  unnecessary. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

1847-48. — War  with  Mexico,  III. — Operations  of  the  Marines  attached  to  the  Army 

under  General  Scott. 

IN  June,  1847,  a  battalion  of  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Watson,  sailed  from  Fort  Hamilton,  New  York  harbor,  to 
join  the  army  under  General  Scott.  The  battalion  debarked  at  Vera 
Cruz  and  joined  the  main  army  at  Puebla,  August  6.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Watson's  command  was  assigned  as  follows: 

Fourth  Division. — Major-General  Quitman. 

First  Brigade. — General  Shields  :  New  York  Regiment,  South  Caro 
lina  Regiment,  Steptoe's  Battery. 

Second  Brigade. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson. 

Battalion  of  Marines. — Second  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

Leaving  a  competent  garrison  in  Puebla,  the  army  under  Scott  marched 
towards  the  Mexican  capital.  The  brilliant  victories  of  Contreras,  Chu- 
rubusco,  and  Molino  del  Rey  reflected  additional  lustre  upon  the  veterans 
of  Vera  Cruz.  Writing  under  date  of  August  27,  General  Scott  said, 
"I  regret  having  been  obliged,  on  the  2Oth,  to  leave  Major-General 
Quitman,  an  able  commander,  with  a  part  of  his  division, — the  fine 
Second  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  the  veteran  detachment  of  United 
States  Marines, — at  our  important  depot,  San  Augustine.  It  was  there 
that  I  had  placed  our  sick  and  wounded,  the  siege-,  supply-,  and  baggage- 
trains.  If  these  had  been  lost,  the  army  would  have  been  driven  almost 
to  despair ;  and,  considering  the  enemy's  very  great  excess  of  numbers, 
and  the  many  approaches  to  the  depot,  it  might  well  have  become, 
emphatically,  the  post  of  honor  " 

On  the  i3th  of  September  the  volunteer  division,  under  command  of 
Major  Levi  Twiggs,  of  the  Marines,  accompanied  by  a  pioneer  party  of 
seventy  men,  under  Captain  J.  G.  Reynolds,  also  of  the  Marines,  bearing 
ladders,  crows,  and  pickaxes,  were  placed  at  the  head  of  the  column  of 
attack  upon  the  fortress  of  Chapultepec.  These  storming  parties  were 
supported  by  the  battalion  of  Marines  under  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Watson.  The  brave  and  lamented  Major  Twiggs  was  killed 
while  leading  the  assault.  Immediately  after  the  capture  of  the  fortress, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  95 

the  whole  column,  under  General  Quitman,  moved  directly  on  the  city 
of  Mexico  by  the  Tacubaya  Causeway,  leading  through  the  Garita  Belen 
into  the  city.  Soiled  with  dust  and  smoke,  and  begrimed  with  blood, 
the  field-officers  on  foot  with  the  men,  they  moved  on  to  the  charge  with 
banners  furled,  and  no  music  but  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  rattling  roll 
of  small  arms.  The  Garita  was  taken  in  a  charge  at  full  run  at  twenty 
minutes  past  one  o'clock  P.M.  At  break  of  day  of  the  1/j.th,  a  white  flag 
announced  the  surrender  of  the  enemy's  stronghold,  the  citadel.  The 
division  of  General  Quitman,  therefore,  was  the  first  to  enter  the  city. 
The  honor  of  first  entering  the  palace,  also,  and  of  hoisting  upon  it  the 
national  flag,  was  accorded  to  this  division,  with  which  the  battalion  of 
Marines  was  connected,  thus  explaining  and  justifying  the  motto  after 
wards  inscribed  upon  the  colors  of  the  Corps:  "From  Tripoli  to  the 
Halls  of  the  Montezumas." 

The  palace  was  overrun  with  escaped  convicts,  and  other  desperate 
characters,  bent  on  plunder.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson,  with  his  bat 
talion  of  Marines,  was  ordered  to  clear  it  of  these  intruders  and  protect 
it  from  spoliation. 

Lieutenant  A.  S.  Nicholson  was  accordingly  detailed,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  forty  men,  to  perform  this  duty,  which  he  promptly  and  success 
fully  accomplished. 

The  following  is  a  roster  of  officers  of  the  battalion  uncfer  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson  : 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Samuel  E.  Watson,  Major  Levi  Twiggs, 
and  Major  William  Dulany.  Staff:  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  D. 
D.  Baker;  First  Lieutenant  and  Acting  Quartermaster  J.  S.  Develin. 
Captains:  John  G.  Reynolds,  George  H.  Terrett,  and  William  Lang. 
First  Lieutenants:  Jabez  C.  Rich,  Robert  C.  Caldwell,  William  L. 
Young,  Thomas  A.  Brady,  John  D.  Simms,  and  Daniel  J.  Sutherland. 
Second  Lieutenants :  George  Adams,  Ed.  McD.  Reynolds,  Thomas  Y. 
Field,  Charles  G.  McCawley,  Freeman  Norvell,  Charles  A.  Henderson, 
John  S.  Nicholson,  Augustus  S.  Nicholson,  and  Henry  Welsh. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Marine  bat 
talion  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Watson,  incident  to  the  capture 
of  Chapultepec  and  the  City  of  Mexico,  on  the  i3th  and  i4th  of  Sep 
tember:  Wounded  at  Chapultepec — Staff:  First  Lieutenant  and  Adju 
tant  D.  D.  Baker,  slightly ;  First  Lieutenant  and  Acting  Quartermaster 
J.  S.  Develin,  slightly;  Sergeant-Major  James  Montgomery,  slightly; 
Commissary-Sergeant  James  Orr,  severely.  Killed  :  Major  Levi  Twiggs, 
at  Chapultepec ;  Corporal  Hugh  Graham  and  Privates  Anthony  A.  Eg 
bert,  Andrew  McLaughlin,  John  Herbert,  Matthew  Banks,  and  Thomas 
Kelly,  all  at  the  gate  of  the  city.  Wounded — Company  A :  Privates 
Seebeck  and  Milburn,  at  the  City  of  Mexico.  Company  B :  Sergeant 
John  Roach  and  Privates  Hugh  Rooney,  Martin  Fogg,  John  McGihen, 


g6  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

P.  Phoenix,  and  S.  Williamson,  all  at  Chapultepec.  Company  C  :  Pri 
vates  Briggs  and  Connor,  at  Chapultepec.  Company  D :  Sergeants  J. 
Curran,  G.  Tansill,  and  W.  J.  Wilson,  and  Private  Thomas  Quinn,  at 
Chapultepec.  Company  E  :  Privates  Thomas  B.  Smith  and  E.  Stevens, 
at  Chapultepec.  Company  F :  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Henderson, 
Musician  McDonald,  and  Privates  E.  Cooper  and  James  Linns,  all  at 
Chapultepec. 

The  following  extract  from  the  report  of  Major-General  Quitman, 
dated  at  the  National  Palace,  Mexico,  September  29,  gives  a  vivid  idea 
of  the  work  accomplished  by  the  Marines  :  "  During  the  day  I  succeeded, 
under  cover  of  our  batteries,  in  making  an  important  reconnoissance  of 
the  grounds  and  works  immediately  at  the  base  of  the  castle.  The  sup 
porting  party  on  this  reconnoissance  was  commanded  by  the  late  Major 
Twiggs,  of  the  Marines  and  sustained  during  the  observation  a  brisk 
fire  from  the  batteries  and  small  arms  of  the  enemy,  who,  when  the 
party  were  retiring,  came  out  of  the  works  in  large  numbers;  and, 
although  repeatedly  checked  by  the  fire  of  our  troops,  continued  to 
advance,  as  the  supporting  party  retired,  until  they  were  dispersed,  with 
considerable  loss,  by  several  discharges  of  canister  from  the  guns  of 
Captain  Drum's  battery,  and  a  well-directed  fire  from  the  right  of  the 
Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  posted  on  the  flank  of  the  battery  for 
its  support.  During  the  day  my  command  was  reinforced  by  a  select 
battalion  from  General  Twiggs's  division,  intended  as  a  storming  party, 
consisting  of  thirteen  officers  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  chosen  for  this  service  out  of  the 
Rifles,  First  and  Fourth  Regiments  of  artillery,  Second,  Third,  and 
Seventh  Regiments  of  infantry,  all  under  the  command  of  Captain  Silas 
Casey,  Second  Infantry.  At  dawn,  on  the  morning  of  the  i3th,  the 
batteries  again  opened  an  active  and  effective  fire  upon  the  castle,  which 
was  returned  by  the  enemy  with  spirit  and  some  execution,  disabling 
for  a  time  the  i8-pounder  in  battery  No.  i,  and  killing  one  of  the  men 
at  the  guns. 

"  During  this  cannonade,  active  preparations  were  made  for  the  assault 
on  the  castle.  Ladders,  pickaxes,  and  crows  were  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  pioneer  storming  party  of  select  men  from  the  volunteer  division, 
under  command  of  Captain  Reynolds  of  the  Marine  Corps,  to  accom 
pany  the  storming  party  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  which  had 
been  selected  from  all  Corps  of  the  same  division,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Major  Twiggs  of  the  Marines.  Perceiving  that  all  the 
preliminary  dispositions  were  made,  Major  Gladden,  with  his  regiment, 
having  passed  the  wall  by  breaching  it,  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania 
regiments  having  entered  over  an  abandoned  battery  on  their  left,  and 
the  battalion  of  Marines  being  posted  to  support  the  storming  parties,  I 
ordered  the  assault  at  all  points.  The  storming  parties,  led  by  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  97 

gallant  officers  who  had  volunteered  for  this  desperate  service,  rushed 
forward  like  a  resistless  tide.  The  Mexicans  behind  their  batteries  and 
breastworks  stood  with  more  than  usual  firmness.  For  a  short  time  the 
contest  was  hand-to-hand  ;  swords  and  bayonets  were  crossed,  and  rifles 
clubbed.  Resistance,  however,  was  vain  against  the  desperate  valor  of 
our  brave  troops.  The  batteries  and  strong  works  were  carried  and  the 
ascent  of  Chapultepec  on  that  side  laid  open  to  an  easy  conquest.  In 
these  works  were  taken  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  one  thousand  muskets, 
and  five  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  of  whom  one  hundred  were  officers, 
among  them  one  general  and  ten  colonels.  .  .  .  The  command  of  the 
storming  party  from  the  volunteer  division  devolved  on  Captain  James 
Miller,  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  by  the  death  of  its  chief, 
the  brave  and  lamented  Twiggs  of  the  Marine  Corps,  who  fell  on  the 
first  advance  at  the  head  of  his  command. 

"  Captain  Roberts,  of  the  rifle  regiment,  who  had  led  the  advance 
company  of  the  storming  party  at  Chapultepec,  and  had  greatly  dis 
tinguished  himself  during  the  preceding  day,  was  detailed  by  me  to 
plant  the  star-spangled  banner  of  our  country  upon  the  national  palace. 
The  flag,  the  first  strange  banner  which  had  ever  waved  over  that  palace 
since  the  conquest  of  Cortez,  was  displayed  and  saluted  with  enthusiasm 
by  the  whole  command.  The  palace,  already  crowded  with  Mexican 
thieves  and  robbers,  was  placed  in  charge  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson, 
with  his  battalion  of  Marines.  By  his  active  exertions,  it  was  soon 
cleared  and  guarded  from  further  spoliation."  Adjutant  Baker  is  men 
tioned  by  the  general  "  as  conspicuous  for  his  bravery  and  efficiency." 

Lieutenant  Robert  C.  Caldwell  was  attached  to  the  division  of  Major- 
General  Pillow  as  senior  officer  of  the  commissary  department. 

A  second  battalion  of  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Major  John 
Harris,  sailed  from  New  York  in  March,  1848,  to  co-operate  on  shore 
with  the  squadron,  on  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  Upon  their  arrival, 
however,  at  Vera  Cruz,  the  armistice  had  been  concluded,  and  they  were 
prevented  from  proceeding  there.  Major  Harris,  therefore,  was  ordered 
to  garrison  Alvarado  with  his  battalion.  The  following  is  a  roster  of 
the  battalion  under  the  command  of  Major  John  Harris :  John  Harris, 
Major,  commanding;  Algernon  S.  Taylor,  First  Lieutenant  and  Ad 
jutant  ;  W.  L.  Shuttleworth,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Quarter 
master. 

Company  A,  ninety  men :  N.  S.  Waldron,  Captain  ;  J.  R.  F.  Tatnall, 
Second  Lieutenant.  Company  B,  ninety  men :  Josiah  Watson,  First 
Lieutenant,  commanding;  George  R.  Graham,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Company  C,  ninety  men :  James  H.  Jones,  Second  Lieutenant,  com 
manding;  John  H.  Broome,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  D,  ninety 
men :  George  F.  Lindsay,  Second  Lieutenant,  commanding ;  W.  S. 
Boyd,  Second  Lieutenant.  Two  drummers  and  two  fifers. 


98  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

1852-55. — The   Expedition   to   Japan — Combined   attack  of  English  and  Americans 
on  the  Chinese — Monument  in  Happy  Valley,  Hong-Kong. 

IN  the  year  1852,  Commodore  M.  C.  Perry  was  ordered  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  naval  squadron  cruising  in  the  East  Indies.  Besides  dis 
charging  his  ordinary  duties  he  was  empowered  to  make  a  display  of  his 
force  in  the  waters  of  the  empire  of  Japan,  and  to  endeavor  to  contract 
with  that  government  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce.  The  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  felt  itself  obliged  to  make  an  effort  to  secure 
from  the  Japanese  the  better  treatment  of  American  seamen  cast  upon 
their  shores,  and  friendly  intercourse  with  American  vessels  seeking 
supplies  in  their  ports.  A  squadron  was  therefore  placed  at  the  disposal 
of  Commodore  Perry,  comprising  the  frigates  Mississippi,  Susquehanna, 
Powhatan,  the  corvette  Macedonian,  the  sloops-of-war  Plymouth,  Sara 
toga,  Vandalia,  and  the  store-ships  Supply,  Southampton,  and  Lexington. 
This  squadron  anchored  off  the  city  of  Uraga,  in  the  bay  of  Jeddo, 
Japan,  on  the  8th  of  July,  1853. 

Commodore  Perry  had  resolved  not  to  submit  to  those  restrictions  and 
annoyances  to  which  the  Japanese  government  had  been  accustomed  to 
subject  all  foreign  vessels.  He  therefore  ordered  away  the  guard  boats 
which  began  to  collect  around  the  ships,  and  intimated  that  he  would 
employ  force  if  they  were  not  withdrawn.  He  also  refused  to  confer 
with  any  but  officers  of  the  highest  rank  in  the  empire,  keeping  himself 
very  secluded,  and  receiving  communications  from  ordinary  officials 
through  his  own  subordinate  officers.  All  this  independence,  exactness, 
and  etiquette  served  well  the  purpose  intended. 

The  commodore  carried  his  squadron  nearer  to  the  capitol  than  was 
allowable  by  Japanese  custom.  He  insisted  that  a  special  commissioner 
of  the  highest  rank  should  be  appointed  to  receive  the  letter  from  the 
president  of  the  United  States,  and  convey  it  to  the  Tycoon ;  and  this 
demand,  after  delay  and  discussion,  was  agreed  to.  A  suitable  building 
was  prepared  by  the  Japanese  for  the  reception  of  the  American  com 
mander,  and  for  the  delivery  of  his  credentials  and  communications. 
To  guard  against  treachery,  the  steamers  moved  to  an  anchorage  where 
their  guns  would  cover  the  landing-place ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 4th  a  large  escort,  composed  of  four  hundred  officers,  seamen,  and 
Marines  from  the  respective  ships,  was  landed  and  formed  in  the  midst 
of  from  five  thousand  to  seven  thousand  Japanese  troops  under  arms. 

In  order  to  give  the  government  suitable  time  to  consider  the  propo 
sitions  of  which  he  had  been  the  bearer,  Commodore  Perry  communi- 


C.    G.    MCCAWLEY, 
COLONEL-COMMANDANT  U.S.  MARINE  CORPS. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  99 

cated  to  the  Tycoon  his  purpose  to  return  for  an  answer  the  ensuing 
spring,  and  then  sailed  with  his  squadron  for  the  Loo-Choo  Islands  and 
the  coast  of  China. 

In  February,  1854,  the  squadron  was  once  more  in  the  bay  of  Jeddo,  to 
receive  the  answer  from  the  government  of  Japan. 

On  this  visit  Commodore  Perry  anchored  his  squadron  permanently 
above  Uraga,  where  the  conferences  had  been  held  on  his  previous  visit ; 
and  insisted  that  he  should  be  met  near  the  capital,  though  a  place  twenty 
miles  below  Uraga  had  been  appointed  for  the  meeting,  and  the  Japanese 
officials  were  waiting  to  receive  him.  His  persistence  brought  the  Japanese 
authorities  to  his  terms,  especially  as  he  took  advantage  of  the  delay,  and 
moved  his  vessels  still  higher,  to  within  eight  miles  of  Tokio.  The  build 
ing  for  the  negotiations  was  finally  erected  on  the  shore  directly  opposite 
the  ships,  and  under  their  guns.  On  the  8th  of  March,  Commodore 
Perry  landed  in  twenty-seven  barges,  with  an  escort  of  five  hundred 
officers,  seamen,  and  Marines.  Five  commissioners  were  in  readiness  to 
receive  him.  The  conferences  were  continued  for  three  weeks,  and  on 
the  3ist  of  March  a  treaty  was  duly  signed,  and  despatched  immediately 
in  the  hands  of  Commander  Adams  to  Washington.  The  treaty  embraced 
an  agreement  to  be  in  peace  and  amity ;  to  open  two  ports  where  the 
American  vessels  could  be  supplied  with  such  stores  as  the  Japanese  could 
furnish;  to  treat  shipwrecked  Americans  with  kindness;  to  allow  them 
freedom,  and  convey  them  to  the  two  ports  in  order  to  their  return  home  ; 
to  allow  temporary  residents  at  the  open  ports  ;  being  Americans,  to  go  to 
certain  proscribed  limits  into  the  surrounding  country  ;  to  permit  ships  of 
the  United  States  to  trade  under  Japanese  regulations  at  the  two  ports ; 
to  grant  to  the  United  States,  at  any  future  time,  such  privileges  as  may 
be  granted  to  any  other  nation,  and  this  without  consultation  or  de 
lay ;  to  allow  American  ships  to  enter  other  ports  when  in  distress;  to 
permit  consuls  or  agents  of  the  United  States  to  reside  in  one  of  the  open 
ports.  During  the  conferences  the  presents  sent  by  the  government  of 
the  United  States  to  the  Tycoon  were  landed,  and  received  by  the  repre 
sentatives  of  the  sovereign.  A  magnetic  telegraph,  with  a  wire  one  mile 
in  length,  was  erected  and  put  in  operation,  and  a  circular  railroad  was 
constructed.  Presents  were  also  sent  in  return  to  the  American  govern 
ment.  The  Marines  serving  in  this  squadron  were  formed  into  one  bat 
talion,  under  Brevet  Major  J.  Zeilin,  with  the  following  company  officers  : 
Brevet  Captain  Robert  Tansill,  Brevet  Captain  W.  B.  Slack,  First  Lieu 
tenant  J.  H.  Jones,  and  First  Lieutenant  Jacob  Read. 

The  sloop-of-war  Plymouth,  Commander  Kelly,  had  been  left  at 
Shanghai  during  the  second  visit  of  the  squadron  to  Japan.  The  Chinese 
imperial  and  revolutionary  troops  were  in  collision  at  and  above  this 
place ;  and  the  treatment,  on  the  part  of  the  Imperialists,  of  the  American 
and  English  residents  compelled  the  interference  of  the  naval  com- 

7 


ioo  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

manders  of  both  nations.  An  imperial  vessel  of  war  captured  an  Ameri 
can  pilot-boat  in  the  harbor.  This  boat  was  retaken  in  a  gallant  manner, 
from  the  midst  of  the  Chinese  fleet,  by  Lieutenant  Guest  and  a  boat's 
crew  from  the  Plymouth.  The  aggressions  of  the  imperial  troops  on  shore 
continuing,  and  the  authorities  leaving  the  foreigners  to  protect  them 
selves,  an  action,  on  the  4th  of  April,  was  brought  on  between  the 
aggressors  and  the  forces  of  the  English  and  American  ships  of  war,  which 
had  been  landed  for  the  protection  of  their  countrymen.  These  forces 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  English  sailors  and  Marines,  besides 
English  volunteers,  and  sixty  sailors  and  Marines  from  the  Plymouth, 
with  thirty  men  from  the  American  merchant-ships.  The  English  occu 
pied  the  right  of  the  line  of  attack,  and  the  Americans,  under  Commander 
Kelly,  the  left ;  the  latter  strengthened  by  two  field-pieces,  worked  by 
American  citizens,  and  by  a  1 2-pound  boat-howitzer.  At  four  in  the 
afternoon  the  attacking  party  began  throwing  shells  into  the  encampment 
of  the  Imperialists.  A  charge  was  checked  by  the  discovery  of  a  wide 
and  deep  creek  in  front  of  the  camp;  but  after  sustaining  a  sharp  fire  of 
musketry  for  about  ten  minutes  the  flank  of  the  Chinese  was  turned,  when 
they  retreated  in  great  disorder,  leaving  a  number  of  dead  and  wounded. 
The  Americans  had  two  men  killed  and  four  wounded ;  the  English 
suffered  to  about  the  same  extent.  Sergeant  Hamilton  commanded  the 
Marines  of  the  Plymouth  on  this  occasion. 

Piracy  in  the  China  seas  had  been  practised  by  the  Chinese  for  many 
years  previous  to  1850,  and  although  condign  punishment  had  more  than 
once  been  administered  by  the  English  and  American  forces  in  those 
waters,  yet  the  pirates  were  still  bold,  strong,  and  indefatigable ;  vessels 
were  plundered,  and  the  most  imaginable  scenes  connected  with  the  idea 
of  piracy  were  realities  in  the  career  of  those  lawless  bands.  Some  of 
the  freebooters  seemed  intent  only  on  plunder,  but  the  majority  delighted 
in  the  opportunity  to  gratify  more  bloody  and  cruel  dispositions,  and 
when  rapacity  had  been  satisfied,  or  hindered  in  its  desires,  they  gave 
way  to  the  demands  of  fiercer  passions.  Merchant-ships  were  armed  to 
some  extent,  and  in  some  instances  successfully  repelled  the  attacks  of 
the  pirates. 

In  the  year  1855  a  combined  boat  attack  from  the  United  States  ship 
Powhatan  and  the  English  sloop  Rattler  was  made  off  Khulan  against 
a  fleet  of  piratical  junks.  The  attack  was  successful,  the  junks  were 
destroyed,  and  many  prisoners  taken. 

To  commemorate  this  event  a  monument  was  erected  in  the  cemetery 
at  Happy  Valley,  Hong-Kong,  a  silent  but  eloquent  tribute  to  those  who 
fell  in  the  attack. 

This  monument  is  built  of  granite,  in  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  about 
eight  feet  in  height  from  the  base  to  the  apex,  and  contains  on  one  of 
the  sides  the  following  inscription  : 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Co;$ts  ;  \:iat 

ERECTED 

by  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  U.  S.  Steam  Frigate  Powhatan  and  H.  B.  M.  Steam 
Sloop  Rattler  in  memory  of  their  shipmates  who  fell  in  a  combined  boat  attack  on  a 
fleet  of  piratical  Junks  off  Khulan,  August  4,  1855. 

On  the  opposite  side  are  the  names,  as  follows : 


George  Mitchell,  A.B. 

James  Silvers,  Carpenters'  Crew. 

John  Maroney,  R.M.A. 

M.  Oliff,  R.M.A. 


John  Pepper,  Seaman. 

J.  A.  Halsey,  Landsman. 

S.  Milliard,  Private  U.S.M.C. 

B.  F.  Adamson,  Private  U.S.M.C. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

1855-60. — Insurrection  at  Montevideo — Engagement  with  Savages  in  Washington  Ter 
ritory — The  Barrier  Forts  in  China — The  Riot  in  Washington — Savages  at  Waya — 
Montevideo — Expedition  to  Paraguay — Services  on  Staten  Island — John  Brown 
Insurrection — Services  at  Kisembo — Panama. 

•  DURING  the  month  of  November,  1855,  an  insurrection  occurred  in 
Montevideo,  which  was  so  sanguinary  and  disastrous  in  its  character  that 
the  foreign  residents  were  in  great  danger,  their  lives  and  property  being 
imperilled. 

The  United  States  ship  Germantown,  Captain  W.  F.  Lynch,  together 
with  English,  French,  and  Spanish  men-of-war,  was  then  lying  at  anchor 
in  the  harbor. 

Captain  Lynch,  who  was  the  senior  officer,  deemed  that  this  emergency 
demanded  the  presence  of  an  armed  force  on  shore.  Accordingly,  a 
detachment  of  Marines,  under  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  A.  S. 
Nicholson,  was  landed  and  occupied  the  custom-house  and  consulate. 

Subsequently  the  insurrection  became  so  formidable  that  the  com 
mander  of  the  Germantown  decided  to  reinforce  Lieutenant  Nicholson, 
and  a  force  of  sailors,  composed  of  detachments  from  the  several  vessels, 
amounting  to  one  hundred  men,  were  landed  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Nicholson. 

The  following  order  will  explain  the  situation,  and  the  subsequent 
letter  to  the  National  Intelligencer  shows  that  the  Marines  under  their 
commanding  officer  prevented  a  dreadful  massacre  : 

U.  S.  S.  GERMANTOWN,  OFF  MONTEVIDEO,  November  27,  1855. 
SIR, — When  you  see  our  boats  shove  off  prepare  to  take  a  position  to  cover  our  land 
ing  at  the  custom-house  stairs.     After  we  have  landed,  our  left  will  be  protected  by 
the  high  wall  on  the  east.     You  will  then  advance  so  as  to  have  in  full  view  the  tri 
angular  building  at  the  S.  E.  front  of    the  custom-house,  and   there   await  further 


-\\QZ^l  ;,' *  j L •;  'History  of^  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

orders.  Be  particular  in  not  permitting  an  act  of  hostility  unless  it  becomes  necessary 
in  self-defence.  Should  the  men  posted  on  the  roof  of  the  triangular  building  fire  upon 
you,  dislodge  them  either  by  musketry  or  by  assault. 

Respectfully, 

(Sg'd)  W.  P.  LYNCH, 

AUG.  S.  NICHOLSON,  First  Lieut.  Commander. 

U.  S.  SHIP  GERMAN-TOWN,  AT  SEA,  May  6,  1856. 
To  THE  EDITORS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  INTELLIGENCER,  WASHINGTON,  D.C. : 

GENTLEMEN, — I  have  recently  seen  in  a  New  York  journal  a  paragraph  copied  from 
your  paper  of  Feb.  21,  or  thereabouts,  wherein  it  is  stated  that  at  the  close  of  the 
late  sanguinary  insurrection  in  Montevideo,  when  the  government  troops  charged  upon 
the  insurgents  who  had  capitulated,  I  threw  myself  between  them  and  thus  preserved 
the  latter  from  destruction. 

A  sense  of  justice  impels  me  to  say  I  was  not  present  on  the  occasion  referred  to, 
and  that  it  was  Lt.  A.  S.  Nicholson,  with  the  Marine  guard  of  this  ship,  who  very 
properly  interfered  to  prevent  the  massacre.  I  approved  his  course  and  thereby  became 
responsible  for  the  consequences,  but  the  generous  act  was  his  own,  and  all  the  credit 
is  due  to  him. 

Be  pleased  to  make  this  known  in  any  manner  you  like,  provided  the  reparation  be 
ample. 

Your  obd't  servant, 
(Sg'd)  W.  F.  LYNCH, 

Capt.  U.  S.  Navy. 

1856. — The  sloop-of-war  Decatur,  Commander  Gansevoort,  was 
stationed  off  the  town  of  Seattle,  Washington  Territory,  for  the  purpose 
of  protecting  the  inhabitants  from  the  savages.  On  the  morning  of  the 
26th  of  January,  1856,  Commander  Gansevoort,  being  satisfied  that  the 
Indians  were  posted  in  large  force  in  the  woods  surrounding  the  town, 
landed  the  crew  and  Marines  of  the  ship  in  four  divisions,  with  a  howitzer 
to  protect  the  inhabitants.  The  action  was  promptly  opened  by  a  shot 
from  the  howitzer,  and  a  shell  from  the  ship's  battery.  The  Indians 
returned  the  fire  with  spirit  from  the  edge  of  the  woods.  A  steady  fire  of 
small  arms,  shot,  and  shell,  for  half  an  hour,  drove  them  from  their  first 
position  to  the  northward  of  the  town,  whence  they  renewed  the  attack, 
and  maintained  it  with  bravery  for  six  hours.  They  finally  retired  in  the 
night.  They  numbered  several  hundreds,  and  suffered  severely. 

"  One  of  the  most  gallant  actions  in  the  history  of  the  Navy  took  place 
in  Chinese  waters  in  the  month  of  November,  1856.  It  consisted  in  the 
storming  and  destruction  of  the  Canton  Barrier  Forts  by  a  portion  of 
the  squadron  under  Flag-Officer  James  Armstrong.  Difficulties  had 
arisen  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  between  the  authorities  of  the  city  of 
Canton  and  the  English  officials  in  that  region,  which  caused  the  British 
admiral  to  station  a  portion  of  his  fleet  off  that  city.  Commander  A. 
H.  Foote  of  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  Portsmouth,  fearing  injury 
to  American  interests,  took  his  ship  up  to  the  island  of  Whampoa.  Soon 
afterwards,  with  several  armed  boats,  he  ascended  the  river  to  Canton, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  103 

and  established  an  armed  neutrality  ;  the  forces  from  the  Levant,  Com 
mander  William  Smith,  being  added  to  those  of  the  Portsmouth.  In  an 
attack  by  the  British  upon  the  governor's  palace  several  Americans 
joined,  and  planted  their  flag  beside  the  British  on  the  walls  of  the  city. 
By  proclamation  Commander  Foote  disavowed  this  proceeding,  as  com 
promising  American  neutrality.  On  consultation  with  the  flag-officer  at 
Whampoa,  it  was  determined  to  withdraw  the  American  forces  from  the 
shore,  place  them  on  board  the  Levant,  and  anchor  her  off  the  city. 
When  Commander  Foote  was  returning  from  this  interview  in  his  un 
armed  boat,  a  round  shot  was  fired  from  the  first  fort,  and,  though  the 
American  flag  was  displayed,  several  more  shots  were  fired,  together  with 
grape  and  canister,  from  the  second  fort,  compelling  the  return  of  the 
boat  to  Whampoa.  On  the  following  day,  the  Portsmouth,  bearing  the 
flag  of  Commodore  Armstrong  for  the  occasion,  and  the  Levant,  their 
complement  of  men  on  duty  at  Canton  being  supplied  from  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  flag-steamer  San  Jacinto,  proceeded  to  the  Barrier  Forts 
for  the  purpose  of  resenting  the  insult. 

"The  Levant  grounded  before  coming  within  range  of  the  forts,  but 
the  Portsmouth,  proceeding  under  a  sharp  fire  till  within  four  hundred 
and  eighty  yards  of  the  nearest  fort,  opened  her  fire,  and  maintained  it 
so  effectually  that,  at  the  end  of  three  hours,  during  which  time  she  threw 
over  two  hundred  shells,  the  enemy  ceased  firing.  The  Portsmouth  was 
struck  nineteen  times ;  still  not  a  man  was  wounded. 

"Four  days  of  unsatisfactory  negotiations  with  Yeh,  the  governor  of 
Canton,  ensued,  when  Commodore  Armstrong,  having  on  account  of  ill 
ness  withdrawn  from  the  Portsmouth,  gave  permission  to  Commander 
Foote  to  renew  the  attack.  The  Levant  having  joined  the  Portsmouth 
on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  both  ships  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  which 
was  returned  with  great  spirit  by  the  forts  for  an  hour,  when  two  hundred 
and  eighty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  were  landed  in  ten  boats,  four 
of  which  had  boat-howitzers.  The  men  from  the  San  Jacinto  and 
Levant  were  under  the  command  of  Commanders  Smith  and  Bell,  and 
the  whole  force  was  led  by  Commander  Foote.  A  safe  landing  was 
effected  opposite  the  ships,  and  the  nearest  fort  was  stormed  in  the  rear 
and  taken,  with  the  loss,  according  to  their  own  report,  of  more  than 
three  hundred  Chinese.  They  endeavored  with  five  thousand  troops  to 
retake  the  fort,  but  were  successfully  repulsed. 

"On  the  following  morning,  after  another  hour's  cannonading,  the 
second  .fort  was  stormed  and  carried  in  a  similar  manner,  but  one  man 
of  the  Americans  being  killed.  One  of  the  launches,  however,  when 
advancing  towards  the  fort,  was  struck  by  a  68-pound  shot,  which  killed 
two  and  wounded  six  men.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  third 
fort,  on  an  island  in  mid-river,  was  captured  with  little  opposition.  At 
daylight  on  the  22d  the  boats  were  manned  on  the  lee  of  the  island, 


IO4  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

whence  they  were  rowed  round  the  point,  and  crossed  the  river  in  the 
face  of  a  heavy  fire  from  the  farther  fort  and  a  large  supporting  force 
of  troops ;  but  this  fort  was  captured  by  a  rapid  assault,  the  Chinese 
retreating  beyond  the  reach  of  musketry  or  guns. 

"All  these  forts  were  constructed  by  European  engineers,  with  granite 
walls  seven  feet  in  thickness,  and  mounted  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
guns  of  large  and  small  calibre.  Though  defended  by  five  thousand 
men,  they  were  taken  by  two  ships  and  a  force  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines ;  the  Portsmouth  alone,  in  the  first 
day's  attack,  silencing  them  all,  and  breaking  the  walls  sufficiently  to 
allow  the  storming  party  to  enter  without  difficulty.  Their  capture  settled 
the  difficulty  with  the  Chinese,  led  to  the  formation  of  a  treaty  of  amity 
and  commerce,  and  caused  the  American  name  to  be  respected  by  that 
people.  The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  a  general  order,  commended  the 
officers  and  men  in  the  following  words :  '  The  prompt  and  decisive 
course  pursued  by  Commodore  Armstrong,  his  officers  and  men,  caused 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  to  be  respected  by  the  Chinese,  contributed 
largely  to  the  security  of  our  citizens  in  China,  and,  during  the  troubles 
which  followed,  was  probably  the  means  of  saving  many  lives  and  much 
property.'  ' 

The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  in  this  engagement  and  in 
the  assault  upon  the  forts :  San  Jacinto,  Brevet  Captain  John  D.  Simms ; 
Portsmouth,  Second  Lieutenant  William  A.  Kirkland ;  Levant,  Second 
Lieutenant  Henry  B.  Tyler,  Jr. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  during  the  efforts  to  subdue  the  Indians 
at  Puget  Sound,  the  Marines  were  engaged.  In  the  fight  also  at  Port 
Gamble,  with  Northern  Russian  Indians,  a  detachment  of  Marines  in 
charge  of  a  sergeant  behaved  with  great  gallantry. 

1857. — The  following  description  of  the  riot  in  the  city  of  Washing 
ton,  June  i,  1857,  is  taken  from  the  Washington  Star :  "  A  gang  of  hired 
roughs  and  bullies,  'Plug  Uglies,'  and  other  worthies,  arrived  from 
Baltimore,  having  been  imported  by  the  '  Know-Nothings'  to  take  full 
possession  of  the  polls,  and,  armed  with  revolvers,  billies,  and  slung- 
shots,  to  prevent  our  own  citizens  from  depositing  their  votes.  ...  At  the 
first  precinct  of  the  Fourth  Ward  Jhe  officers  did  all  in  their  power  to 
prevent  a  riot,  placing  themselves  between  the  belligerents  and  the  voters 
in  the  line,  with  Captain  Goddard  at  the  head,  who  demanded  peace, 
when  they  rushed  on  en  masse,  with  an  impetuosity  which  nothing  short 
of  military  force  could  have  withstood ;  and,  although  the  police  fought 
like  heroes,  they  were  forced  to  abandon  the  field  to  the  possession  of 
these  hired  miscreants.  Such  an  exhibition  of  murderous  instruments  as 
the  party  carried  was  sufficient  to  cause  the  peaceably  disposed  to  keep 
as  far  as  possible  from  them.  One  man  was  armed  with  a  huge  black 
smith  sledge,  another  with  a  horse-pistol,  a  third  carried  a  miscellaneous 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  105 

assortment  of  revolvers,  bowie-knives,  billies,  and  an  iron  bar,  while  a 
fourth  carried,  besides  a  sack  filled  with  stones,  brickbats,  etc.,  a  large 
maul  of  sufficient  strength  to  fell  an  ox.  The  parties  brandished  them 
about  in  a  menacing  manner,  to  the  terror  of  all  those  who  were  not 
like  themselves  participants  in  these  disgraceful  scenes. 

"Mayor  Magruder  accordingly  sent  a  despatch  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  asking  that  a  company  of  Marines  should  be  ordered 
out  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  peace.  ...  At  one  o'clock  a 
crowd  of  men  ami  boys  passed  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue  from  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Fifth  Ward,  dragging  after  them  a  small  brass  cannon.  Im 
mediately  after,  two  companies  of  United  States  Marines,  commanded 
by  Captain  Tyler,  went  up  to  the  City  Hall  and  reported  tHeir  services 
to  the  mayor. 

"The  battalion  was  under  command  of  Captain  Tyler,  with  Lieuten 
ant  Henderson,  adjutant.  The  first  company  was  commanded  by  Brevet- 
Major  Zeilin,  the  second  by  Captain  Maddox  and  Lieutenant  Turner. 
They  formed  in  line,  and  marched  towards  the  City  Hall,  the  crowd  of 
rioters  hooting,  yelling,  threatening,  and  insulting  them  at  every  step. 
They  were  passed  in  their  way  up  by  a  crowd  of  Plug  Uglies  and  others 
who  were  hauling  the  brass  cannon,  and  threatening  that  none  of  the 
Marines  should  return  to  the  Navy-Yard  alive.  Arrived  at  the  City 
Hall,  Captain  Tyler  reported  services  to  the  mayor.  The  Marines  then 
moved  to  the  scene  of  action,  subjected  all  the  while  to  the  most  abusive 
and  insulting  epithets  from  the  lawless  gang  who  followed.  When  they 
arrived  opposite  the  polls,  which  had  been  closed  for  some  time,  they 
halted  in  the  middle  of  the  street  and  ordered  arms. 

"  The  cannon  was  hauled  out,  and  a  large  crowd  of  rioters  surrounded 
it,  while  a  delegation  was  sent  to  inform  the  commanding  officer  that 
unless  the  Marines  were  instantly  withdrawn  the  piece  would  be  dis 
charged  into  their  ranks.  Captain  Tyler,  upon  receiving  this  threaten 
ing  message,  gave  the  order  to  move  towards  the  gun,  and,  when  the 
right  of  the  line  was  nearly  opposite  it,  General  Henderson  deliberately 
went  up  to  the  piece  and  placed  his  body  against  the  muzzle,  thereby 
preventing  it  from  being  aimed  at  the  Marines,  just  at  the  moment  it  was 
about  to  be  discharged.  The  general  was  dressed  in  citizens  clothes. 

"  He  addressed  the  rioters,  saying,  'Men,  you  had  better  think  twice 
before  you  fire  this  piece  at  the  Marines.'  He  informed  the  crowd  that 
the  pieces  were  loaded  with  ball  cartridge,  and  warned  them  repeatedly; 
warned  the  citizens  to  leave  the  spot.  The  general,  finding  that  the 
piece  would  be  fired  unless  captured  instantly,  crossed  over  to  Captain 
Tyler,  and  gave  the  order  for  ten  or  fifteen  of  the  Marines  to  take  it. 
During  this  time  a  number  of  pistol-shots  were  fired  at  General  Hender 
son,  some  of  the  parties  standing  within  a  few  feet  of  him.  One  platoon 
charged  the  piece  on  the  run.  Those  in  charge  of  the  piece  instantly 


1 06  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

retreated,  and  a  dozen  or  more  revolvers  were  discharged  at  the  platoon, 
which  had  laid  hold  of  the  gun  and  were  taking  it  away.  A  sortie  was 
made  by  the  mob  to  recapture  the  piece,  when  Lieutenant  Henderson 
ran  up  and  hauled  it  across  the  street  to  the  rear  of  the  detachment. 

"  A  man  ran  up  to  the  general  within  two  feet  of  his  person,  and  was 
about  to  discharge  his  pistol,  when  a  private  with  his  musket  struck  his 
arm  causing  the  weapon  to  fall ;  at  the  same  time  the  general  seized  the 
villain  and  marched  him  off  to  the  mayor,  into  whose  hands  he  placed 
him.  The  pistol-shots  now  rattled  around  like  hailstones,  and  the 
officers  had  great  difficulty  in  restraining  their  men  from  returning  the 
fire.  General  Henderson  and  all  the  officers  were  constantly  admonish 
ing  the  men  not  to  fire  until  the  order  was  given,  but  a  shot  coming  from 
the  crowd  struck  a  private  in  the  cheek,  making  a  dreadful  wound,  and, 
several  more  being  hit  with  stones,  the  soldiers  could  stand  it  no  longer; 
they  poured  in  an  answering  fire,  which  was  stopped  as  soon  as  possible 
by  the  officers. 

"The  two  companies  now  formed  and  remained  standing  for  some  time. 
Several  shots  were  fired  from  a  distance,  by  one  of  which  a  private  was 
hit  in  the  shoulder. 

"The  battalion  made  a  movement  as  if  to  pour  in  another  fire,  which 
the  rioters  seeing,  took  to  their  heels  and  fled.  The  force  was  finally 
drawn  off  to  the  City  Hall,  where  they  remained  for  some  time ;  and 
then  proceeded  to  the  railroad  depot,  to  intercept,  if  possible,  any  more 
of  the  murderous  gang  arriving  from  Baltimore.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of 
notice  that,  of  all  the  Marines  who  were  called  out,  sixty  were  raw  re 
cruits,  and  had  not  been  under  drill  three  days." 

1858. — At  Waya,  one  of  the  Feejee  Islands,  during  the  year  1858, 
two  American  citizens,  engaged  in  trading  with  that  island,  were  mur 
dered  by  the  natives.  Commander  Sinclair,  of  the  Vandalia,  made  a 
demand  for  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage,  and  was  answered  with  de 
fiance.  An  expedition  was  immediately  despatched,  under  Lieutenant 
Caldwell,  to  assault  and  destroy  the  principal  village  on  the  island. 
Lieutenant  Caldwell  had  with  him,  among  other  officers,  Lieutenant 
Ramsay  of  the  Marines.  The  force  consisted  of  forty  Marines  and  sea 
men.  A  fierce  conflict  ensued  between  them  and  about  three  hundred 
native  warriors,  which  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  latter.  The  Hon. 
Isaac  Toucey,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  said  of  the  affair :  "  The  gallantry, 
coolness,  and  bravery  displayed  by  officers  and  men  was  in  the  highest 
degree  commendable." 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year,  Flag-Officer  Forrest  of  the  Brazil 
Squadron  landed  a  detachment  of  Marines  at  Montevideo.  When  he 
arrived  there  a  portion  of  the  people  had  taken  up  arms  and  were  ad 
vancing  to  the  capital.  The  government  applied  to  the  foreign  agents 
to  land  an  armed  force  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  the  foreign 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  107 

residents.  A  sufficient  force  was  therefore  landed  from  the  vessels 
present,  and  Flag-Officer  Forrest  selected  to  command  it.  A  strict 
neutrality  was  observed.  The  detachments  returned  to  their  respective 
ships  in  about  ten  days,  without  coming  into  collision  with  the  revolu 
tionists,  they  having  capitulated  on  their  approach  to  the  capital.  The 
Marines  were  commanded  by  Captain  and  Brevet  Major  J.  G.  Reynolds, 
assisted  by  Lieutenants  Alexander  W.  Starke  and  C.  D.  Hebb,  from  the 
flag-ship  St.  Lawrence  and  sloop  Falmouth. 

During  the  same  year,  Paraguay  having  given  our  government  various 
causes  of  offence,  and  refusing  to  make  reparation,  a  strong  naval  force, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  W.  C.  Shubrick,  was  sent  out  to  that 
country  towards  the  close  of  the  year.  A  commissioner  accompanied 
the  fleet,  to  settle  the  difficulty,  if  possible,  without  recourse  to  violence ; 
and  he  succeeded  in  so  doing.  The  vessels  composing  the  expedition 
had  the  usual  complement  of  Marines.  The  following  officers  of  the 
Corps  were  attached  to  the  squadron  :  Captain  Robert  Tansill,  Captain 
and  Brevet  Major  J.  G.  Reynolds,  First  Lieutenant  C.  A.  Henderson, 
Second  Lieutenants  T.  S.  Wilson,  A.  W.  Starke,  C.  D.  Hebb,  H.  L. 
Ingraham,  and  J.  Schermerhorn. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August  a  portion  of  the  quarantine  buildings  on 
Staten  Island  were  used  for  the  reception  of  quite  a  number  of  yellow- 
fever  patients  from  merchant  vessels.  Some  of  the  citizens  of  the  island, 
believing  this  to  be  an  improper  place  to  treat  patients  of  this  class,  and 
fearing  the  disease  would  be  disseminated  throughout  the  island  if  the 
State  persisted  in  using  the  buildings  for  permanent  pest-houses,  deter 
mined  to  destroy  them.  On  the  night  of  the  ist  of  September,  a  large 
and  well-organized  mob  burned  a  portion  of  these  buildings.  The 
stores  of  the  Susquehanna,  lately  arrived  from  Greytown  with  fever  on 
board,  had  been  landed  and  deposited  within  the  buildings,  but  this 
part  had  not  been  destroyed  by  the  rioters.  On  the  2d,  however,  the 
authorities  were  informed  it  was  the  intention  of  the  malcontents  to 
burn  this  also.  Acting  upon  this  information,  a  detachment  of  sixty-five 
Marines  from  the  barracks  and  the  United  States  frigate  Sabine,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Jabez  C.  Rich  and  Second  Lieutenant  Charles 
Heywood,  were  ordered  to  occupy  the  government  buildings,  and  to 
protect  them  at  all  hazards.  On  the  second  day  after  the  occupation  by 
the  Marines,  Captain  Rich  was  relieved,  the  command  devolving  upon 
Lieutenant  Heywood.  The  place  was  held  one  week,  and  during  that 
time  the  rioters  made  several  attempts  to  enter  the  enclosure  surrounding 
the  government  building,  but,  finding  it  so  well  protected,  thought  it 
prudent  to  retire,  although  they  were  well  supplied  with  battering-rams 
and  fully  armed. 

1859. — On  October  17,  1859,  the  United  States  were  convulsed  by 
the  news  of  the  John  Brown  insurrection  at  Harper's  Ferry.  The  Pres- 


Io8  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

ident  ordered  Colonel-Commandant  Harris  to  send  forward  the  available 
force  at  head-quarters  by  special  train,  and  a  detachment,  consisting  of 
eleven  sergeants,  thirteen  corporals,  one  bugler,  and  eighty-one  privates, 
with  a  battery  of  Dahlgren  howitzers,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Israel  Greene,  was  at  the  railroad  station  in  one  hour.  They  were  met 
by  the  Secretaries  of  War  and  Navy,  who  gave  Lieutenant  Greene  his 
instructions.  Upon  arrival  they  found  the  militia  from  Shepherdstown, 
Frederick  and  Jefferson  Counties,  and  the  cities  of  Baltimore  and  Fred 
erick  held  in  check  by  the  insurgents,  who  had  been  driven  into  an 
engine-house.  Under  the  orders  of  Colonel  Robert  E.  Lee,  then  in  the 
United  States  army,  the  Marines  assailed  the  barricaded  engine-house, 
using  a  long  ladder  as  a  battering-ram,  and,  after  killing  two  of  the  band 
and  mortally  wounding  another,  captured  the  "chief"  and  the  remain 
der  of  his  followers.  Scouting  parties  sent  into  the  country  captured 
fifteen  hundred  pikes.  One  Marine  was  mortally  and  another  slightly 
wounded. 

1860. — In  March,  Commander  Brent,  commanding  the  sloop-of-war 
Marion,  was  instrumental  in  saving  from  destruction  the  property  of  Ameri 
can  residents  at  Kisembo,  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa.  On  the  first  of  the 
month  they  applied  to  him  to  send  a  sufficient  force  on  shore  to  guard  their 
factories,  apprehending  they  would  be  destroyed  by  the  natives,  who 
meditated  an  attack  on  the  Portuguese  at  that  place.  Commander  Brent 
promptly  responded  to  the  call ;  proceeded  on  shore  with  several  officers 
of  the  Marion  and  forty  sailors  and  Marines ;  established  a  guard  at  the 
factories,  maintained  it  until  the  next  morning,  and  then  returned  to  the 
ship.  On  the  3d  a  signal  was  made  from  the  shore  for  assistance,  and 
Commander  Brent  immediately  landed  a  force  of  fifty  sailors  and  Marines 
with  a  howitzer.  During  the  day  the  Portuguese  and  natives  were  en 
gaged  in  conflict,  and  several  attempts  were  made  by  the  natives  to 
approach  the  factories  to  fire  them,  but  were  thwarted  by  the  guard  under 
Commander  Brent.  The  next  morning  the  detachment  returned  -to  the 
ship,  as  no  further  danger  was  apprehended.  Commander  Brent  observed 
a  strict  neutrality  throughout,  his  only  object  being  the  protection  of 
American  citizens.  The  Marines  on  board  the  Marion  were  under  the 
command  of  a  sergeant. 

The  St.  Mary's  was  stationed  on  the  western  coast  of  Mexico  from 
October,  1859,  until  ordered  to  Panama,  where  she  arrived  in  July,  1860. 
At  the  insurrection  in  the  vicinity  of  Panama,  which  occurred  September 
27,  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  from  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  killing  six 
and  wounding  three  of  the  white  inhabitants.  Commander  Porter  im 
mediately  went  on  shore,  consulted  the  American  consul,  and  at  the 
request  of  the  military  intendante,  and  of  the  agent  of  the  railroad, 
landed  a  body  of  Marines  and  sailors  and  a  field-piece,  and  took  posses 
sion  of  the  railroad  station.  On  the  28th  the  governor  delivered  up  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  109 

city  to  the  joint  occupancy  of  the  forces  from  the  St.  Mary's  and  the 
British  ship  Clio.  Tranquillity  having  been  restored,  the  detachment  on 
the  yth  of  October  was  withdrawn.  The  Marines  of  the  St.  Mary's  were 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Edward  McDonald  Reynolds. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 
1861.— The  Civil  War. 

"  IN  the  spring  of  the  year  1861  a  civil  war  was  kindled  in  the 
United  States  of  America  which  has  neither  a  pattern  in  character  nor 
a  precedent  in  causes  recorded  in  the  history  of  mankind.  It  appears 
in  the  annals  of  the  race  as  a  mighty  phenomenon,  but  not  an  inexpli 
cable  one.  Gazers  upon  it  at  this  moment,  when  its  awfully  grand  and 
mysterious  proportions  rather  fill  the  mind  with  wonder  than  excite  the 
reason,  look  for  the  half-hidden  springs  of  its  existence  in  different 
directions  among  the  absurdities  of  theory.  There  is  a  general  agree 
ment,  however,  that  the  terrible  war  was  clearly  the  fruit  of  a  conspiracy 
against  the  nationality  of  the  republic,  and  an  attempt,  in  defiance  of 
the  laws  of  divine  equity,  to  establish  an  empire  upon  a  basis  of  in 
justice  and  a  denial  of  the  dearest  rights  of  man.  ...  It  was  the 
rebellion  of  an  oligarchy  against  the  people,  with  whom  the  sovereign 
power  is  rightfully  lodged. 

"The  services  of  the  national  Navy  during  the  war,  on  account  of 
their  peculiarity,  attracted  less  attention  than  those  of  the  army,  and 
were  not  appreciated  by  the  people.  They  have  an  equal  claim  to  the 
gratitude  of  the  nation,  so  freely  accorded  to  the  other  branch  of  the 
service.  The  Confederates  having  no  navy,  in  a  proper  sense,  and  only 
flotillas  here  and  there,  and  with  some  powerful  '  rams'  on  rivers  and  in 
harbors,  and  not  a  ship  on  the  ocean,  excepting  roving  pirate  vessels, — 
built,  armed,  furnished,  and  manned  chiefly  by  the  British,  and  cruising 
alone,— there  were  few  occasions  for  purely  naval  battles.  The  whole 
force  of  the  Navy  Department  was  employed  in  the  services  of  blockade, 
in  assisting  the  attacks  of  the  armies  on  fortifications  along  the  rivers 
and  on  the  borders  of  the  Gulf  and  the  ocean,  or  in  chasin'g  the  pirates. 
In  these  fields  of  great  usefulness  the  national  vessels  performed  labors 
of  incalculable  value,  and  officers  and  men  exhibited  skill,  valor,  and 
fortitude  unsurpassed. 

"Never  in  the  history  of  the  world  were  there  occasions  for  such 
exhausting  labors  and  highest  courage  in  service  afloat  as  the  American 
Navy  was  subjected  to  in  its  operations  among  the  rivers  and  bayous  of 
the  southwestern  regions  of  the  republic.  Many  a  victory  over  which 


no  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

the  people  have  shouted  themselves  hoarse  in  giving  plaudits  to  the 
gallant  army  might  never  have  been  achieved  but  for  the  co-operation 
of  the  Navy.  To  the  common  observer  it,  in  many  instances,  seemed 
to  be  only  an  auxiliary,  or  wholly  a  secondary  force,  when,  in  truth,  it 
was  an  equal,  if  not  the  chief,  power  in  gaining  a  victory.  Without  it, 
what  might  have  been  the  result  of  military  operations  at  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  all  along  the  Mississippi  River,  especially  at 
Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  and  New  Orleans;  what  at  Mobile,  Pensacola, 
Key  West,  along  the  Florida  seaboard,  the  sea-coast  islands,  Charleston, 
and  the  borders  of  North  Carolina,  and  even  in  holding  Fortress  Mon 
roe  and  Norfolk  ? 

"  Notwithstanding  the  weak  condition  of  the  naval  service,  the  decree 
went  forth,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  that  all  the  ports  of  the  States  where 
in  rebellion  existed  must  be  closed  against  commerce  by  a  strict  block 
ade.  Foreign  nations  protested  and  menaced,  but  the  work  was  done. 
There  were  no  dock-yards  or  workmen  adequate  to  construct  the  vessels 
needed  for  the  service,  yet  such  was  the  energy  of  the  department  that 
an  unrelaxing  blockade  was  maintained  for  four  years,  from  the  Capes  of 
the  Chesapeake  to  the  Rio  Grande,  while  a  flotilla  of  gunboats,  pro 
tecting  and  aiding  the  army  in  its  movements,  penetrated  and  patrolled 
our  rivers,  through  an  internal  navigation  almost  continental,  from  the 
Potomac  to  the  Mississippi.  Ingenuity  and  mechanical  skill  developed 
amazing  inventions.  That  marine  monster,  the  Monitor,  was  created, 
and  began  a  new  era  in  naval  warfare  ;  and  the  world  was  suddenly 
enriched  by  new  discoveries  in  naval  service.  Vessels  of  the  merchant 
service  were  purchased  and  converted  into  strong  warriors  ;  and  men 
from  that  service  were  invited  to  man  them.  Schools  were  established 
for  nautical  instruction  ;  dock-yards  were  enlarged  and  filled  with  work 
men  ;  and  very  soon  a  large  number  of  vessels  were  afloat,  watching  the 
harbors  under  the  ban.  No  less  than  two  hundred  and  eight  war-vessels 
were  constructed,  and  most  of  them  fitted  out  during  the  four  years  ;  and 
four  hundred  and  eighteen  vessels  were  purchased  and  converted  into 
war-ships. 

"  The  blockading  service  was  performed  with  great  vigor  and  efficiency 
under  the  triple  stimulus  of  patriotism,  duty,  and  personal  emolument. 
The  British  government  professed  to  be  neutral,  but  British  merchants 
and  adventurers  were  allowed  to  send  swarms  of  swift -winged  steamers, 
laden  with  arms,  ammunition,  clothing,  and  everything  needed  by  the 
insurgents,  to  run  the  blockade.  The  profits  of  such  operations  were 
enormous,  but  the  risks  were  equally  so ;  and  it  is  believed  that  a  true 
balance-sheet  would  show  no  profits  left,  in  the  aggregate,  with  the 
foreign  violators  of  the  law.  The  number  of  such  vessels  captured  or 
destroyed  during  the  rebellion  by  the  national  Navy  was  fifteen  hundred 
and  four.  The  gross  proceeds  of  property  captured  and  condemned 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 1 1 

as  lawful  prize  before  the  first  of  November  following  the  close  of  the 
war  amounted  to  nearly  twenty-two  millions  of  dollars,  which  sum  was 
subsequently  enlarged  by  new  decisions.  The  value  of  the  vessels  cap 
tured  and  destroyed  (eleven  hundred  and  forty-nine  captured  and  three 
hundred  and  fifty-five  destroyed)  was  not  less  than  seven  millions  of  dol 
lars,  making  a  total  loss,  chiefly  to  British  owners,  of  at  least  thirty  mil 
lions  of  dollars."  * 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

1861 — The  Civil  War,  I. — Resignations — Star  of  the  West — Fort  Pickens — Destruction 
of  the  Gosport  Navy-Yard—Potomac  Flotilla— The  First  Battle  of  Bull  Run— Reor 
ganization  of  the  Corps — Hatteras  Inlet. 

THE  Great  Rebellion  made  the  next  special  demand  upon  the  services 
of  the  Marines,  and  they  were  rendered  "nobly  and  well"  afloat,  and 
"admirably  in  camp  and  field."  In  the  beginning,  when  the  defections 
from  the  army  and  Navy  occurred,  the  Marine  Corps,  being  largely  com 
posed  of  Southern  men,  lost  its  full  share  of  officers.  There  were  in  all 
six  resignations  and  fourteen  dismissals  (those  who  tendered  their  resig 
nations  after  May  i,  1861,  being  summarily  dismissed).  The  first  duty 
to  which  it  was  called  was  on  the  yth  of  January,  when  the  steamship 
Star  of  the  West  left  New  York  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  artillerists 
and  Marines  during  the  night  to  reinforce  Fort  Sumter.  The  expedition 
failed,  and  on  January  12  the  Star  of  the  West  arrived  at  New  York 
without  landing  her  troops  at  Sumter.  The  captain  reported  that  unex 
pected  obstacles  in  the  removal  of  the  buoys,  lights,  and  ranges,  which, 
though  he  arrived  in  the  night,  compelled  him  to  wait  till  daybreak 
outside  the  harbor,  rendered  a  successful  entrance  impossible.  During 
the  same  month  a  detachment  of  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  C.  D.  Hebb,  garrisoned  Fort  Washington,  on  the  Potomac,  four 
teen  miles  south  of  Washington  City.  On  the  226.  of  January  the  entire 
force  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy-Yard  was  put  under  arms  and  held  in  readi 
ness  to  act  immediately,  because  of  some  apprehension  of  an  attack  by 
an  organized  force  of  persons  in  sympathy  with  the  Confederates. 

On  the  1 2th  of  April  the  Marines  were  engaged  in  the  expedition, 
under  Captain  H.  A.  Adams,  for  the  reinforcing  of  Fort  Pickens.  The 
Marines  of  the  squadron  were  under  Lieutenant  Cash.  When  the  re 
inforcement  was  complete,  the  Marines  remained  in  the  fort  at  the 
request  of  Captain  Vogdes.  The  whole  expedition  was  under  the  charge 
of  Commander  Charles  H.  Poor,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Smith,  of  the 

*  "  Civil  War  in  America,"  Lossing,  vol.  iii. 


112  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Brooklyn,  Lieutenants  Lewis  and  Newman,  of  the  Sabine,  and  Lieutenant 
Belknap,  of  the  St.  Louis ;  and  it  is  highly  creditable  to  these  officers 
that  this  service  was  performed  without  accident  or  disorder  under 
unfavorable  circumstances.  The  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Cash  and  the 
Marines  under  his  command  was  thus  handsomely  acknowledged  by 
Colonel  Brown:  "The  services  of  the  Marines  being  no  longer  indis 
pensably  necessary,  they  are  relieved  from  duty  at  this  post.  The 
colonel  commanding  takes  pleasure  in  publishing  his  entire  approval  of 
the  conduct  and  his  appreciation  of  the  services  of  Lieutenant  Cash  and 
his  command,  which  have  been  of  great  value,  and  always  cheerfully  ren 
dered,  and  the  conduct  of  the  troops  uniformly  correct  and  soldierly." 

On  the  night  of  the  2oth  of  the  same  month  a  body  of  Marines  assisted 
in  destroying  the  Gosport  (Virginia)  Navy-Yard.  About  half-past  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Pawnee,  with  a  force  of  Marines  under  First 
Lieutenant  A.  S.  Nicholson,  entered  Gosport  harbor.  Her  coming  was 
not  unexpected,  and  the  men  on  the  Pennsylvania  and  the  Cumberland, 
several  hundred  in  number,  greeted  her  with  a  volley  of  cheers.  All 
Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  were  thoroughly  aroused  by  the  arrival  of  the 
Pawnee.  They  did  not  expect  her,  and  were  not  prepared  for  her.  They 
were  seized  with  trepidation,  thinking,  perhaps,  she  had  come  with  the 
Cumberland  and  Pennsylvania,  intending  to  bombard  the  town,  because 
they  had  the  night  before  rifled  the  United  States  magazine,  just  below 
Norfolk,  of  about  four  thousand  kegs  of  powder.  Being  utterly  defence 
less,  they  made  no  protest  against  the  Pawnee's  presence,  nor  did  they 
venture  near  the  Navy- Yard.  The  commodore  ordered  the  Marines  on 
the  Pennsylvania,  the  Cumberland,  the  Pawnee,  and  in  the  yard  to  the 
work  of  destruction.  All  the  books  and  papers,  the  archives  of  the 
establishment,  were  transferred  to  the  Pawnee.  Everything  of  interest 
to  the  government  to  preserve  on  the  Pennsylvania  was  transferred  to  the 
Cumberland.  On  this  latter  it  was  also  said  a  large  amount  of  gold  from 
the  custom-house  at  Norfolk  had  been  placed.  Having  made  safe  every 
thing  that  was  to  be  carried  away,  the  Marines  were  next  set  at  work  to 
destroy  everything  of  value  on  the  Pennsylvania  and  in  the  yard.  Many 
thousand  stands  of  arms  were  destroyed.  Carbines  had  their  stocks 
broken  by  a  blow  from  the  barrels,  and  were  thrown  overboard.  A  large 
lot  of  revolvers  shared  the  like  fate.  Shot  and  shell  by  thousands  went 
with  hurried  plunges  to  the  bottom.  Most  of  the  cannon  had  been 
spiked  the  day  and  night  before.  There  were  at  least  fifteen  hundred 
pieces  in  the  yard, — Dahlgren  guns  and  Columbiads.  A  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Times  thus  wrote  of  the  work  that  followed  :  "  It  is 
impossible  to  describe  the  scene  of  destruction  that  was  exhibited.  Un- 
weariedly  it  was  continued  from  nine  o'clock  until  about  twelve,  during 
which  time  the  moon  gave  light  to  direct  the  operations.  But  when  the 
moon  sank  behind  the  western  horizon,  the  barracks  near  the  centre  of 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 1 3 

the  yard  were  set  on  fire,  that  by  its  illumination  the  work  might  be  con 
tinued.  The  crackling  flames  and  the  glare  of  light  inspired  with  new 
energies  the  destroying  Marines,  and  havoc  was  carried  everywhere 
within  the  limits  of  order.  But  time  was  not  left  to  complete  the  work. 
Four  o'clock  of  Sunday  morning  came,  and  the  Pawnee  was  passing  down 
from  Gosport  harbor  with  the  Cumberland,  the  coveted  prize  of  the 
secessionists,  in  tow,  every  soul  from  the  other  ships  and  the  yard  being 
aboard  of  them,  save  two.  Just  as  they  left  their  moorings  a  rocket  was 
sent  up  from  the  deck  of  the  Pawnee.  It  sped  high  in  the  air,  paused  a 
second,  and  burst  in  shivers  of  many  colored  lights.  And  as  it  did  so, 
the  well-set  trains  at  the  ship-houses,  and  on  the  decks  of  the  fated  vessels 
left  behind,  went  off"  as  if  lit  simultaneously  by  the  rocket.  One  of  the 
ship-houses  contained  the  New  York,  a  ship  thirty  years  on  the  stocks, 
and  yet  unfinished.  The  other  was  vacant ;  but  both  houses  and  the  old 
New  York  burned  like  tinder."  The  vessels  fired  were  the  Pennsylvania, 
the  Merrimac,  the  Germantown,  the  Plymouth,  the  Raritan,  the  Columbia, 
and  the  Dolphin. 

In  the  early  part  of  1861  it  became  necessary  to  place  a  flotilla  on  the 
lower  Potomac.  A  variety  of  circumstances  combined  to  render  this 
one  of  the  most  arduous  duties  on  the  whole  insurgent  frontier,  and  it 
was  clearly  foreseen  that  without  the  active  co-operation  of  the  army  it 
would  be  impossible  to  prevent  the  navigation  of  the  river  from  being 
obstructed  by  the  batteries  on  the  Virginia  side.  For  several  months, 
however,  the  Navy  succeeded  more  effectually  than  could  have  been 
expected  in  keeping  the  river  open  for  commercial  purposes,  and  restrict 
ing,  to  a  great  extent,  communication  between  the  opposite  shores.  In 
the  heroic  discharge  of  his  duty,  Commander  J.  H.  Ward,  first  com 
mander  of  the  flotilla,  lost  his  life.  Commander  Ward  was  killed  in  an 
action  with  a  rebel  battery,  at  Matthias  Point,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1861. 
He  was  the  first  naval  officer  killed  during  the  rebellion. 

The  Navy  continued  to  capture  every  rebel  vessel  that  showed  itself  on 
the  Potomac,  and  to  give  security  and  protection  to  the  commerce  of 
loyal  citizens  until  the  close  of  October,  when  the  insurgents  erected 
batteries  at  various  points  on  the  Virginia  shore,  thereby  rendering 
passage  on  the  river  dangerous. 

Captain  Thomas  T.  Craven  succeeded  Commander  Ward  in  the  com 
mand  of  the  Potomac  flotilla,  and  remained  on  that  service  until  relieved 
by  Lieutenant  R.  H.  Wyman,  in  the  fall  of  1861. 

Lieutenant  Wyman  remained  in  command  on  the  Potomac,  constantly 
engaged  in  active  operations  against  the  enemy  until  early  in  1862,  when 
Commodore  A.  H.  Harwood  assumed  the  command. 

In  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  or  Manassas,  a  battalion,  commanded 
by  Major  Reynolds,  served  in  Porter's  brigade  as  the  support  of  Griffin's 
battery. 


114  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

The  following  is  Major  John  G.  Reynolds's  report  of  the  participation 
of  the  battalion  in  the  battle,  dated  at  the  Marine  Barracks,  Head 
quarters,  Washington,  July  24,  1861,  addressed  to  Colonel  Harris,  com 
mandant  of  the  Corps:  "I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  movements  and 
operations  of  the  battalion  of  Marines  under  my  command  detailed  to 
co-operate  with  the  army.  The  battalion  left  the  barracks  at  head 
quarters  in  time  to  reach  the  Virginia  end  of  the  Potomac,  '  Long 
Bridge,'  at  3  P.M.,  July  16,  and  proceeded  up  the  Columbia  turnpike 
until  an  officer,  purporting  to  be  assistant  adjutant-general  of  Colonel 
Porter's  brigade,  came  up  and  assigned  us  position  in  the  line  of  march, 
which  placed  us  immediately  in  rear  of  Captain  Griffin's  battery  of  flying 
artillery.  This  assignment  was  continued  up  to  the  period  of  the  battle 
at  Bull  Run.  On  reaching  the  field,  and  for  some  hours  previously,  the 
battery's  accelerated  march  was  such  as  to  keep  my  command,  more  or 
less,  in  double-quick  time ;  consequently  the  men  became  fatigued  or 
exhausted  in  strength.  Being  obliged  at  this  period  to  halt,  in  order  to 
afford  those  in  the  rear  an  opportunity  of  closing  up  and  taking  their 
proper  place  in  the  line,  the  battery  was  lost  to  protection  from  the  force 
under  my  command.  This  I  stated  to  Colonel  Porter,  who  was  ever 
present,  watching  the  events  of  the  day.  The  position  of  the  battery 
was  pointed  out,  and  I  was  directed  to  afford  the  necessary  support.  In 
taking  the  position  the  battalion  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire.  While 
holding  it,  General  McDowell  ordered  the  battalion  to  cover  or  support 
the  Fourteenth  New  York  Regiment,  which  was  about  to  be  engaged.  . 
The  battalion,  in  consequence,  took  the  position  indicated  by  the  general, 
but  was  unable  to  hold  it,  owing  to  the  heavy  fire  which  was  opened  upon 
them.  They  broke  line  several  times,  but  were  as  frequently  formed  and 
urged  back  to  their  position,  when  finally  a  general  rout  took  place,  in 
which  the  Marines  participated. 

"  I  am  constrained  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that,  when  taking 
into  consideration  that  the  command  was  composed  entirely  of  recruits, 
not  one  being  in  service  over  three  weeks,  and  many  had  hardly  learned 
their  facings,  the  officers  likewise  being  but  a  short  time  in  the  service, 
their  conduct  was  such  as  to  elicit  the  highest  commendation.  Of  the 
three  hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  enlisted  men  under  my  command, 
there  were  but  two  staff-officers,  two  captains,  one  first  lieutenant, 
nine  non-commissioned  officers,  and  two  musicians  who  were  experienced 
from  length  of  service.  The  remainder  were,  of  course,  raw  recruits, 
which  being  considered,  I  am  happy  to  report  the  good  conduct  of 
officers  and  men.  The  officers,  although  but  little  experienced,  were 
zealous  in  their  efforts  to  carry  out  my  orders.  In  the  death  of  Lieuten 
ant  Hitchcock  the  Corps  has  been  deprived  of  a  valuable  acquisition. 
On  the  field  he  was  ever  present  and  zealous.  He  sought  and  won  the 
approbation  of  his  commanding  and  brother  officers.  Enclosed  please 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 1 5 

find  a  return  of  the  battalion,  showing  its  present  strength,  with  casual 
ties,  etc.  The  abrupt  and  hasty  retreat  from  the  field  of  battle  presents 
a  deplorable  deficiency  in  both  arms  and  equipments. 

"The  rout  being  of  such  a  general  character,  the  men  of  all  arms 
commingled;  the  only  alternative  left  was  to  hasten  to  the  ground 
occupied  by  the  brigade  to  which  we  were  attached  on  the  morning  of 
the  day  of  the  battle.  On  my  way  thither  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  fall 
in  with  General  Meigs,  whose  consternation  at  the  disastrous  retreat  was 
pictured  on  his  countenance.  He  was  of  the  opinion  the  army  should 
hasten  to  Arlington,  fearing  otherwise  the  enemy  would  follow  up  their 
successes  and  cut  us  off  on  the  road.  My  men  being  weary  and  much 
exhausted,  without  blankets  and  other  necessaries,  I  determined  to 
strengthen  such  as  should  pass  the  wagons  by  hot  coffee,  and  move  on  to 
head-quarters  at  Washington,  where  their  wants  could  be  supplied.  But 
few  came  up ;  others  continued  on  to  the  Long  Bridge,  where,  on  my 
arrival,  I  found  some  seventy  or  more,  who,  at  my  earnest  solicitation, 
were  permitted  to  accompany  me  to  the  barracks.  In  assuming  the 
responsibility  of  the  return  to  head-quarters,  I  trust  my  course  will  meet 
the  approbation  of  authority.  Blankets  were  thrown  aside  by  my  order 
on  entering  the  field,  which,  from  force  of  circumstances,  we  were 
unable  afterwards  to  recover." 

The  following  are  condensed  from  the  report  of  Colonel  Porter,  com 
manding  the  brigade : 

4  "The  Marines  were  recruits,  but  through  constant  exertions  of  their 
officers,  have  been  brought  to  present  a  fine  military  appearance. 

"The  Marines  were  moving  up  in  fine  style  in  rear  of  the  Fourteenth 
New  York. 

"  Griffin's  battery  found  its  way  through  the  timber  to  the  fields 
beyond,  followed  promptly  by  the  Marines. 

"Our  right  was  rapidly  developed  by  the  Marines. 

"  Among  those  who  deserve  special  mention,  I  beg  leave  to  place  the 
following  names, — viz.,  Major  Reynolds  of  the  Marines,  whose  zealous 
efforts  were  well  sustained  by  his  subordinates,  two  of  whom,  Brevet 
Major  Zeilin  and  Lieutenant  Hale,  were  wounded,  and  one,  Lieutenant 
Hitchcock,  lost  his  life." 

The  roster  of  the  battalion  was  as  follows  : 

Major  John  G.  Reynolds,  commanding;  Major  William  B.  Slack, 
quartermaster ;  Major  Augustus  S.  Nicholson,  adjutant  and  inspector. 

Company  A  :  Brevet  Major  Jacob  Zeilin,  Second  Lieutenants  F.  Mun- 
roe  and  J.  H.  Grimes.  Company  B:  Captain  James  H.  Jones,  Second 
Lieutenant  Robert  W.  Huntington.  Company  C:  First  Lieutenant 
Alan  Ramsay,  Second  Lieutenant  Hitchcock.  Company  D :  Second 
Lieutenants  W.  H.  Cartter  and  W.  H.  Hale. 

Non-commissioned  staff,  two  ;  first  sergeants,  four ;  second  sergeants, 

8 


n6  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

three  ;  corporals,  eight ;  musicians,  four ;  privates,  three  hundred  and 
twenty;  total,  three  hundred  and  fifty-three. 

The  list  of  casualties  in  the  action  was  as  follows:  Killed:  Second 
Lieutenant  Hitchcock,  Privates  Clegg,  Harris,  Hughes,  Lane,  Moore, 
Perkins,  Riley,  Ward.  Wounded :  Brevet  Major  Zeilin,  Lieutenant 
Hale,  Corporal  Steiner,  Privates  Stuart,  Bowers,  Siemens,  Bradford, 
Dodge,  Etchell,  Tiger,  Lang,  McKinney,  McCann,  Wheelan,  McGuigan, 
Howell,  Rannohan,  Cook,  Potter.  Missing:  Privates  Barrett,  Hunt, 
McChristae,  Clark,  McCoy,  Lewis,  Beans,  Dempsey,  Kressler,  Dermott, 
Otto,  Cannon,  Stanley,  Duncanson,  Foley,  and  Wood.  Recapitulation  : 
Killed,  one  lieutenant  and  eight  privates  ;  wounded,  one  brevet  major, 
one  lieutenant,  one  corporal,  and  sixteen  privates ;  missing,  sixteen 
privates;  total,  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  forty-four. 

The  necessity  for  a  better,  more  thorough,  and  more  efficient  organi 
zation  of  the  Corps  was  recognized,  and  an  act  was  passed  by  Congress 
for  that  purpose  July  25,  providing  that  the  Corps  should  consist  of  the 
following  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  and  privates, — 
viz.,  one  colonel-commandant,  one  colonel,  two  lieutenant-colonels,  four 
majors,  one  adjutant  and  inspector,  one  paymaster,  one  quartermaster, 
two  assistant  quartermasters,  twenty  captains,  thirty  first  lieutenants, 
thirty  second  lieutenants,  one  sergeant-major,  one  quartermaster-sergeant, 
one  drum-major,  one  principal  musician,  two  hundred  sergeants,  two 
hundred  and  twenty  corporals,  thirty  musicians  for  band,  sixty  drum 
mers,  sixty  fifers,  and  twenty-five  hundred  privates.  It  was  further  pro1 
vided  that  the  commissions  of  the  officers  then  in  the  Marine  Corps 
should  not  be  vacated  by  the  act;  and  that  the  President  of  the  United 
States  might,  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  first  by  promotions,  and 
then  by  selections,  appoint  the  officers  thereby  authorized,  which  ap 
pointments  should  be  submitted  to  the  Senate,  at  the  next  session,  for  its 
advice  and  consent.  The  appointments  of  commissioned  officers,  to  be 
made  under  the  provisions  of  the  act,  was  to  be  of  persons  between  the 
ages  of  twenty  and  twenty-five  years,  and  they  were  to  be  subjected, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  to  an  examination  as 
to  their  qualifications  for' the  service  to  which  they  were  to  be  appointed. 
The  act  was  approved  July  25,  1861. 

During  the  following  month  the  services  of  the  Marines  were  again 
brought  into  requisition  in  the  capture  of  Hatteras  Inlet,  August  30. 
Flag-Officer  Silas  H.  Stringham  left  Hampton  Roads,  August  26,  with 
the  flag-ship  Minnesota,  Captain  G.  I.  Van  Brunt,  having  in  company 
the  United  States  steamers  Wabash,  Captain  Samuel  Mercer;  Monticello, 
Commander  John  P.  Gillis  ;  Pawnee,  Commander  S.  C.  Rowan  ;  Harriet 
Lane,  Captain  John  Faunce;  United  States  chartered  steamers  Adelaide, 
Commander  Henry  S.  Stellwagen  ;  George  Peabody,  Lieutenant  R.  B. 
Lowry;  and  tug  Fanny,  Lieutenant  Pierce  Crosby;  the  transports  Ade- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 1 7 

laide  and  George  Peabody  towing  schooners  with  surf-boats  on  them, 
and  the  Monticello  and  Pawnee,  surf-boats  only.  Major-General  Butler 
took  passage  in  the  Minnesota,  the  transports  having  parts  of  two  regi 
ments  and  one  company  of  regulars,  under  the  command  of  Colonels 
Max  Weber  and  Hawkins,  and  Captain  Larnard,  United  States  army. 
On  the  morning  of  the  27th  they  rounded  the  shoals  off  Hatteras;  at 
5  P.M.  they  anchored  at  the  southward  of  the  cape,  hoisted  out  the  surf- 
boats  and  made  preparations  for  landing  the  troops.  In  the  morning, 
General  Butler  and  the  Marines  of  the  Minnesota,  the  latter  under  the 
command  of  Captain  William  L.  Shuttleworth,  United  States  Marine 
Corps,  were  sent  to  the  Harriet  Lane.  About  noon  the  work  of  disem 
barking  began,  and  the  Wabash  and  Cumberland  opened  fire  on  Fort 
Clark.  The  fire  was  returned  by  the  fort.  The  Minnesota,  Wabash, 
and  Cumberland  continued  their  fire,  passing  and  repassing  the  fort  until 
it  was  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  The  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  fort,  the 
shot  falling  short  of  or  passing  over  the  ships.  At  2  P.M.  the  American 
flag  was  displayed  from  Fort  Clark  by  the  pickets,  who  were  in  posses 
sion.  A  little  later  the  signal  to  "  cease  firing"  was  made,  and  the  squad 
ron  hauled  off  for  the  night,  with  the  exception  of  the  Monticello, 
Pawnee,  and  Harriet  Lane,  they  being  ordered  to  go  in  shore  and  pro 
tect  the  troops  during  the  night.  The  engagement  was  resumed  the  next 
morning,  and  at  11.10  A.M.  a  white  flag  was  displayed  from  Fort  Hat- 
teras.  The  enemy  returned  the  fire  throughout  the  engagement,  but  with 
no  effect,  their  shot  falling  short.  Almost  at  the  beginning  of  the  engage 
ment  they  hauled  down  their  colors,  and  showed  none  until  the  white 
flag  was  displayed.  Upon  the  appearance  of  the  white  flag  the  troops 
marched  towards  the  fort,  and,  as  if  by  preconcerted  signal,  but  without 
any  order  or  request,  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  squadron  gave  three 
hearty  cheers  for  their  success.  At  11.30  o'clock,  Major-General  Butler, 
in  the  tug  Fanny,  went  into  the  inlet  to  the  rear  of  the  forts  to  take 
possession.  No  accident  to  a  single  officer  or  man  of  the  Navy,  army,  or 
Marines  was  recorded.  Flag-Officer  Stringham  thus  concludes  his  report : 
*'  In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  state  to  the  department  and  to  my  govern 
ment  that  I  have  naught  but  praise  to  accord  to  officers,  seamen,  and 
Marines,  and  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army  who  were  present,  for 
gallantry  and  cheerful  devotion  to  duty  and  to  their  government,  the 
United  States  of  America,  which  they  all  cheerfully  and  heartily  served." 

Secretary  Welles,  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  report,  said, 
"This  brilliant  achievement,  accomplished  without  the  loss  of  a  man  or 
injury  to  any  one  in  the  Federal  service,  has  carried  joy  and  gladness  to 
the  bosom  of  every  friend  of  the  Union." 

The  following  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps  were  in  this  engagement : 
Minnesota,  Captain  W.  L.  Shuttleworth,  Lieutenant  Cartter;  Wabash, 
Captain  I.  T.  Doughty ;  Susquehanna,  Lieutenant  P.  R.  Fendall ;  Cum- 


1 1 8  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

berland,  Lieutenant  Charles  Heywood.  The  other  vessels,  with  the 
exception  of  the  tug  Fanny,  had  their  complement  of  Marines,  the  guard 
of  each  being  in  charge  of  a  sergeant. 

The  Marines  from  the  Minnesota,  Wabash,  and  Cumberland,  com 
manded  by  their  own  officers,  landed  with  the  troops,  and  entered  Fort 
Clark. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

1861. — The  Civil  War,  II. — The  Capture  of  the  Confederate  Privateer  Judah  off  Pensa- 
cola — Destruction  of  the  Royal  Yacht — Battle  of  Port  Royal — Loss  of  the  Governor 
— The  Trent  Affair — Occupation  of  Wassaw  Island. 

ON  the  night  of  September  13,  1861,  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  from 
the  frigate  Colorado,  flag-ship,  consisting  of  the  first  launch  and  first, 
second,  and  third  cutters,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenants  Russell, 
Sprotson,  and  Blake,  and  Midshipman  Steece,  respectively,  assisted  by 
Captain  Reynolds  of  the  Marine  Corps,  Assistant  Surgeon  Kennedy, 
Assistant  Engineer  White,  and  Midshipmen  Forrest  and  Higginson. 
The  whole  force  detailed  was  about  one  hundred  officers,  sailors,  and 
Marines.  The  object  of  the  expedition  was  the  destruction  of  a  schooner 
which  lay  off  the  Pensacola  Navy-Yard,  supposed  to  be  fitting  out  as  a 
privateer,  and  the  spiking  of  a  gun  in  battery  in  the  southeast  end  of  the 
yard. 

The  attack  was  made  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th,  at  half-past  three 
o'clock.  The  schooner  was  moored  to  the  wharf,  armed  with  a  pivot 
and  two  broadside  guns,  under  the  protection  of  a  battery  and  field- 
piece.  The  crew  were  prepared  to  receive  their  assailants,  pouring  in  a 
volley  of  musketry  as  the  boats  neared  the  vessel.  After  a  desperate  re 
sistance,  they  were  driven  from  the  deck  of  the  schooner  on  to  the  wharf, 
where  they  rallied  and  were  joined  by  the  guard,  a  continual  fire  upon 
the  attacking  party  being  kept  up.  In  the  mean  time  the  vessel  was  set 
on  fire  in  several  places,  and  while  burning  was  freed  from  her  moorings, 
and  drifted  down  opposite  Fort  Barrancas,  where  she  sank. 

Of  the  party  assigned  to  attend  to  the  spiking  of  the  gun,  only  Lieu 
tenant  Sprotson  and  Gunner  Boreton  were  able  to  find  it,  the  party  be 
coming  separated  in  the  darkness.  Fortunately  only  one  man  was  found 
in  charge  of  the  gun,  and  he  immediately  levelled  his  piece  at  Lieutenant 
Sprotson,  but  was  shot  down  by  Gunner  Boreton  before  he  could  obtain 
correct  aim,  both  pieces  exploding  simultaneously.  The  gun,  a  lo-inch 
columbiad,  was  immediately  spiked,  and  the  officers  returned  to  their  boat. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  accomplished  in  the  short  space  of 
fifteen  minutes,  and  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  being  aroused,  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  119 

assailants  pulled  away,  and  when  a  short  distance  from  the  shore  fired  six 
charges  of  canister  from  their  howitzers  into  the  yard. 

Flag-Officer  William  Mervine,  in  his  official  report,  says,  "I  am 
grieved  to  report  that  this  brilliant  affair  was  not  unattended  with  loss 
on  our  side.  I  have  to  report  as  killed  by  shots  from  the  cross-trees  of 
the  schooner,  while  the  boats  were  approaching,  boatswain's  mate,  Charles 
H.  Lamphere,  and  John  R.  Herring,  seaman  and  captain  of  howitzer 
(two  of  the  best  men  in  our  ship),  and  Marine  John  Smith  (the  first  man 
to  board  the  schooner,  and  who  behaved  most  gallantly),  who  was,  by  a 
sad  mistake,  having  lost  his  distinguishing  mark,  killed  by  one  of  our 
own  men.  .  .  .  The  Marines  especially  seemed  to  have  sustained  the 
reputation  borne  by  their  branch  of  the  service,  as  they  receive  encomiums 
from  all  sides."  The  following  is  a  full  list  of  the  Marines  engaged: 
Captain  Edward  McDonald  Reynolds  (wounded),  First  Sergeant  Patrick 
Fitzsimmons,  Sergeant  James  Gallaher,  Corporal  John  Moore,  Corporal 
George  Debbyshire,  Privates  Martin  Barnum,  Francis  Kelly,  James  Fuller, 
Dennis  Sullivan,  Savillan  Coburn  (wounded),  Anthony  Baker,  Michael 
Ryan,  Terrence  O'Dowd  (wounded  badly),  John  Smith  (killed),  John 
Smith,  2d,  Charles  Daily,  Edward  Eagan,  Augustus  Hartman,  Charles 
Carberry  (wounded),  Clarence  Barton. 

On  the  night  of  the  yth  of  November,  1861,  an  expedition,  consisting 
of  the  first  and  second  launches,  under  command  of  Lieutenants  James 
E.  Jouett  and  John  J.  Mitchell,  left  the  frigate  Santee,  then  blockading 
off  Galveston  bar,  Texas,  for  the  purpose  of  surprising  and  burning  the 
man-of-war,  steamer  General  Rusk,  lying  under  Pelican  Island  Fort. 

The  expedition  entered  the  harbor  at  11.40  P.M.,  and  succeeded  in 
passing  the  armed  schooner  guarding  the  channel,  and  the  Bolivar  and 
Point  Forts,  without  discovery,  but  unfortunately  grounded  on  the  Bolivar 
spit,  and  at  this  juncture  was  discovered. 

Lieutenant  Jouett,  deeming  it  imprudent,  after  this  discovery,  to  en 
counter  a  vessel  so  large  and  so  heavily  armed  and  manned,  determined 
to  abandon  that  part  of  the  expedition.  In  returning,  he  boarded  and, 
after  a  sharp  conflict,  captured  the  armed  schooner  Royal  Yacht.  Several 
stands  of  arms,  thirteen  prisoners,  and  the  rebel  colors  were  captured.  As 
the  pilot  of  the  expedition  had  been  shot  down,  and  the  schooner  had 
received  a  shell  between  wind  and  water,  Lieutenant  Jouett  did  not  deem 
it  advisable  to  bring  her  out.  He  therefore  burned  her  after  spiking 
the  gun,  a  light  32-pounder.  Lieutenant  Jouett  and  Gunner  Carter  were 
seriously  wounded;  also  six  men,  one  mortally.  A  detachment  of  Ma 
rines  under  the  command  of  a  sergeant  accompanied  this  expedition. 

In  October,  1861,  a  joint  expedition  of  military  and  naval  forces  was 
organized  by  the  government.  Captain  Samuel  F.  Du  Pont,  an  officer  of 
great  professional  skill  and  experience,  was  appointed  to  its  command, 
the  military  force  being  under  the  control  of  Brigadier-General  W.  T. 


1 20  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Sherman.  The  intention  of  the  Department  was  to  seize  and  occupy 
one  or  more  points  on  the  southern  coast  where  the  blockading  squadron 
might  find  shelter,  possess  a  depot,  and  afford  protection  to  loyal 
citizens.  To  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont  was  intrusted  the  important  and 
responsible  duty  of  selecting  the  point  of  attack.  And  he,  believing 
that  the  capabilities  of  the  expedition  justified  it,  determined,  after  con 
sultation  with  Brigadier-General  Sherman,  to  make  Port  Royal,  South 
Carolina,  a  well-defended  harbor,  the  objective  point. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1861,  the  fleet,  consisting  of  forty-eight 
vessels,  including  transports,  a  larger  squadron  than  ever  before 
assembled  under  the  United  States  flag,  left  Hampton  Roads.  On  Fri 
day,  November  i,  the  fleet,  being  then  off  Hatteras,  encountered  one 
of  the  severest  storms  ever  known  on  the  coast.  The  gunboat  Isaac 
Smith  was  compelled  to  throw  her  formidable  battery  overboard  to 
keep  from  foundering,  and  thus  relieved,  was  enabled  to  go  to  the  assist 
ance  of  the  chartered  steamer  Governor,  then  in  a  very  dangerous  con 
dition,  and  on  board  of  which  was  the  battalion  of  Marines  under 
Major  Reynolds.  They  were  finally  rescued  by  Captain  Ringgold,  in 
the  Sabine,  under  difficult  circumstances,  soon  after  which  the  Governor 
went  down.  The  transport  Peerless,  in  a  sinking  condition,  was  met  by 
the  Mohican,  Commander  Godon.  All  the  men  on  board  the  transport, 
twenty-six  in  number,  were  saved  by  the  boats  of  the  Mohican  under 
very  perilous  circumstances. 

On  Sunday,  November  3,  the  weather  moderated,  and  on  the  follow 
ing  morning  the  fleet  arrived  at  Port  Royal,  and  came  to  anchor  off  the 
bar.  All  aids  to  the  navigation  of  Port  Royal  harbor  had  been  removed 
by  the  rebels;  but,  thanks  to  the  skill  of  Commander  Davis,  fleet 
captain,  and  Mr.  Boutelle,  of  the  coast  survey,  the  channel  was  imme 
diately  found,  sounded  out,  and  buoyed.  By  3  P.M.  the  transports,  with 
all  the  gunboats,  were  sent  forward,  and  before  dark  they  were  securely 
anchored  in  the  roadstead. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  the  squadron,  consisting  of  the  Wabash, 
Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers,  the  leading  ship ;  Susquehanna,  Captain 
J.  L.  Lardner  ;  Mohican,  Commander  S.  W.  Godon  ;  Seminole,  Com 
mander  J.  P.  Gillis;  Pawnee,  Lieutenant-Commanding  R.  H.  Wyman  ; 
Unadilla,  Lieutenant-Commanding  N.  Collins;  Ottawa,  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  T.  H.  Stevens;  Pembina,  Lieutenant-Commanding  J.  P. 
Bankhead ;  Vandalia,  Commander  F.  S.  Haggerty,  towed  by  the  Isaac 
Smith,  Lieutenant-Commanding  J.  W.  A.  Nicholson ;  Bienville,  Com 
mander  Charles  Steedman ;  Seneca,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Daniel 
Ammen  ;  Curlew,  Lieutenant-Commanding  P.  G.  Watmough ;  Penguin, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  T.  A.  Budd ;  Augusta,  Commander  E.  G. 
Parrott,  attacked  the  enemy's  batteries  on  Bay  Point  and  Hilton  Head 
(Forts  Beauregard  and  Walker),  and  succeeded  in  silencing  them  after 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  121 

an  engagement  of  four  hours'  duration,  and  driving  away  the  squadron 
of  rebel  steamers  under  Commodore  Tatnall.  The  defeat  of  the  enemy 
terminated  in  utter  rout  and  confusion.  Their  quarters  and  encamp 
ments  were  abandoned  without  an  attempt  to  carry  away  either  public  or 
private  property.  The  ground  over  which  they  fled  was  strewn  with  the 
arms  of  private  soldiers,  and  officers  retired  in  too  much  haste  to  submit 
to  the  encumbrance  of  their  swords.  The  Marines  and  a  company  of 
seamen  took  possession  of  the  deserted  ground,  and  held  the  forts  on 
Hilton  Head  till  the  arrival  of  General  Sherman.  The  bearer  of  the 
despatches  giving  an  account  of  the  victory  carried  with  him  the  first 
American  ensign  raised  upon  the  soil  of  South  Carolina  after  the 
rebellion  broke  out.  The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached 
to  the  vessels  named  below  during  the  engagement :  Wabash,  Captain 
I.  T.  Doughty ;  Susquehanna,  First  Lieutenant  P.  R.  Fendall ;  Vandalia, 
Captain  John  Schermerhorn.  The  present  captain,  Henry  C.  Cochrane, 
who  had  been  appointed  to  the  Marine  Corps  in  the  previous  August,  but 
was  too  young  to  receive  his  commission,  was  also  present  on  the  gunboat 
Pembina.  The  other  vessels  were  supplied  with  guards,  under  the  charge 
of  sergeants. 

Secretary  Welles,  in  his  reply  to  the  official  report  of  the  fight,  says, 
' '  To  you  and  your  associates,  under  the  providence  of  God,  we  are 
indebted  for  this  great  achievement  by  the  largest  squadron  ever  fitted 
out  under  that  flag  which  you  have  so  gallantly  vindicated,  and  which 
you  will  bear  onward  to  continued  success." 

The  following  is  the  full  text  of  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont's  report  concern 
ing  the  Marine  battalion,  dated  on  board  the  flag-ship  Wabash,  Port 
Royal  Harbor,  South  Carolina,  November  15,  1861,  and  addressed  to 
Secretary  Welles  :  "  I  avail  myself  of  the  first  moment  of  leisure  to  trans 
mit  to  you  the  report  of  Major  John  George  Reynolds,  commanding  the 
battalion  of  Marines  attached  to  my  squadron,  in  which  he  relates 
all  the  circumstances  attending  the  loss  of  the  chartered  steamer  Gov 
ernor,  and  the  rescue  of  himself  and  his  command  by  the  frigate  Sabine, 
Captain  Ringgold.  The  Department  will  find  this  report  exceedingly 
interesting,  and  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  the  conduct  of  the  officers 
and  of  nearly  all  the  men  of  the  battalion  was  such  as  to  command 
Major  Reynolds's  approval,  as  it  will,  I  doubt  not,  receive  the  favorable 
notice  of  the  Department.  The  established  reputation  and  high  stand 
ing  of  Major  Reynolds  might  almost  dispense  with  any  observation  of 
my  own  upon  the  bravery  and  high  sense  of  honor  which  he  displayed 
in  disputing  with  Mr.  Weidman,  though  not  a  seaman,  the  privilege  of 
being  the  last  to  leave  the  wreck." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  Major  Reynolds's  report,  dated  on 
board  the  United  States  ship  Sabine,  at  sea,  November  8,  1861,  ad 
dressed  to  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont:  "  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the 


122  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Marine  battalion  under  my  command  left  Hampton  Roads  on  transport 
steamboat  Governor,  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  October, 
with  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet,  and  continued  with  them  near  the 
flag-ship  Wabash  until  Friday,  the  ist  of  November.  On  Friday  morn 
ing,  about  ten  o'clock,  the  wind  began  to  freshen,  and  by  twelve  or  one 
blew  so  violently  that  they  were  obliged  to  keep  her  head  directly  to  the 
wind,  and  thereby  leave  the  squadron,  which  apparently  stood  its  course. 
Throughout  the  afternoon  the  gale  continued  to  increase,  though  the 
Governor  stood  it  well  until  about  four  o'clock."  The  vessel  was  much 
damaged  by  sea  and  wind,  and  was  in  danger  of  going  down.  "At 
day-break  preparations  were  made  for  sending  boats  to  our  relief, 
although  the  sea  was  running  high;  and  it  being  exceedingly  dangerous 
for  a  boat  to  approach  the  guards  of  the  steamer,  in  consequence  the 
boats  laid  off,  and  the  men  were  obliged  to  jump  into  the  sea,  and  thence 
hauled  into  the  boats.  All  hands  were  thus  providentially  rescued  from 
the  wreck,  with  the  exception,  I  am  pained  to  say,  of  one  corporal  and 
six  privates,  who  were  drowned  or  killed  by  the  crush  or  contact  of  the 
vessels.  Those  drowned  were  lost  through  their  disobedience  of  orders 
in  leaving  the  ranks  or  abandoning  their  posts.  After  the  troops  were 
safely  re-embarked,  every  exertion  was  directed  to  securing  the  arms,  ac 
coutrements,  ammunition,  and  other  property  which  might  have  been 
saved  after  lightening  the  wreck.  I  am  gratified  at  being  able  to  say  nearly 
all  the  arms  were  saved  and  about  half  the  accoutrements.  Too  much 
praise  cannot  be  bestowed  upon  the  officers  and  men  under  my  command  ; 
all  did  nobly.  The  firmness  with  which  they  performed  their  duty  is 
beyond  all  praise.  For  forty-eight  hours  they  stood  at  ropes  and  passed 
water  to  keep  the  ship  afloat.  Refreshments  in  both  eating  and  drink 
ing  were  passed  to  them  at  their  posts  by  non-commissioned  officers.  It 
is  impossible  for  troops  to  have  conducted  themselves  better  under  such 
trying  circumstances.  The  transport  continued  to  float  some  hours 
after  she  was  abandoned,  carrying  with  her  when  she  sank,  I  am  grieved 
to  say,  company  books  and  staff  returns.  In  order  to  complete  the  per 
sonnel  of  the  battalion,  I  have  requested  Captain  Ringgold  to  meet  a  requi 
sition  for  seven  privates,  to  which  he  has  readily  assented.  I  considered 
this  requisition  in  order,  as  I  have  been  informed  by  Captain  Ringgold 
it  is  his  intention,  or  orders  were  given  for  his  ship,  to  repair  to  a  northern 
port,  in  which  event  he  can  be  easily  supplied,  and  my  command,  by 
the  accommodation,  rendered  complete,  in  order  to  meet  any  demand 
you  may  make  for  our  services." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  battalion  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Reynolds  : 

Major  commanding,  John  George  Reynolds;  Adjutant,  Second  Lieu 
tenant  T.  L.  McElrath ;  Assistant  Quartermaster,  Second  Lieutenant  E. 
A.  Smalley ;  Assistant  Surgeon  Ricketts ;  Captains  George  R.  Graham, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  123 

James  Wiley ;  First  Lieutenants  L.  M.  Goldsborough,  Frank  Munroe, 
R.  W.  Huntington,  J.  H.  Grimes,  W.  H.  Parker,  C.  H.  Nye  ;  Second 
Lieutenants  H.  A.  Bartlett,  C.  A  Stillman,  S.  H.  Mathews,  F.  H.  Corrie, 
C.  H.  Bradford,  E.  B.  Sturgeon,  A.  Devereux. 

After  the  capture  of  Port  Royal,  Captain  Schermerhorn  was  transferred 
from  the  Vandalia  to  the  battalion  under  Major  Reynolds. 

On  the  i5th  of  March,  1862,  Captain  C.  G.  McCawley,  Second 
Lieutenants  H.  B.  Lowry,  P.  C.  Pope,  and  S.  W.  Powell  joined  the  bat 
talion,  then  in  camp  at  Bay  Point. 

No  event  of  the  war  attracted  more  attention  from  other  nations  than 
that  which  has  gone  into  history  as  "The  Trent  Affair."  In  the  cap 
ture  of  Slidell  and  Mason  and  their  companions  no  fighting  took  place, 
but  the  presence  and  active  participation  of  the  Marines  justifies  the 
introduction  of  the  subject  so  far  as  the  capture  itself  was  concerned. 
On  the  8th  of  November,  Lieutenant  Fairfax,  of  the  United  States 
steamer  San  Jacinto,  received  from  Captain  Wilkes  orders  to  have  the 
second  and  third  cutters  of  that  ship  fully  manned  and  armed,  and  be 
in  all  respects  prepared  to  board  the  steamer  Trent,  then  hove  to  under 
the  guns  of  the  San  Jacinto.  On  boarding  her  he  was  ordered  to 
demand  the  papers  of  the  steamer,  her  clearance  from  Havana,  and  the 
list  of  passengers  and  crew.  The  order  continued:  "Should  Mr. 
Mason,  Mr.  Slidell,  Mr.  Eustis,  and  Mr.  M.cFarland  be  on  board,  you 
will  make  them  prisoners  and  send  them  on  board  the  ship  immediately, 
and  take  possession  of  her  as  a  prize.  All  trunks,  cases,  packages,  and 
bags  belonging  to  them  you  will  take  possession  of  and  send  on  board 
this  ship.  Any  despatches  found  on  the  persons  of  the  prisoners,  or  in 
possession  of  those  on  board  the  steamer,  will  be  taken  possession 
of  also,  examined,  and  retained,  if  necessary.  I  have  understood  that 
the  families  of  these  gentlemen  may  be  with  them.  If  so,  I  beg  you 
will  offer  them,  in  my  name,  a  passage  in  this  ship  to  the  United  States, 
and  that  all  the  attention  and  comforts  we  can  command  are  tendered 
them,  and  will  be  placed  in  their  service.  In  the  event  of  their  accept 
ance,  should  there  be  anything  which  the  captain  of  the  steamer  can 
spare  to  increase  their  comforts  in  the  way  of  necessaries  or  stores,  of 
which  a  war-vessel  is  deficient,  you  will  please  procure  them.  The 
amount  will  be  paid  for  by  the  paymaster.  Lieutenant  James  A.  Greer 
will  take  charge  of  the  third  cutter,  which  accompanies  you,  and  assist 
you  in  these  duties." 

At  1.30  o'clock  P.M.,  on  the  same  day,  Lieutenant  Fairfax  repaired 
alongside  the  British  packet  in  an  armed  cutter,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Houston,  second  assistant  engineer,  and  Mr.  Grace,  the  boatswain.  He 
went  on  board  the  Trent  alone,  leaving  the  two  officers  in  the  boat,  with 
orders  to  wait  until  it  became  necessary  to  show  some  force.  He  was 
shown  up  by  the  first  officer  to  the  quarter-deck,  where  he  met  the  cap- 


1 24  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

tain  and  informed  him  who  he  was,  asking  to  see  the  passenger-list.  The 
captain  declined.  Lieutenant  Fairfax  told  him  that  he  had  information 
of  Messrs.  Mason,  Slidell,  Eustis,  and  McFarland  taking  passage  at 
Havana,  in  the  packet  for  St.  Thomas,  and  announced  his  intention  to 
satisfy  himself  whether  they  were  on  board  before  allowing  the  steamer 
to  proceed.  Mr.  Slidell,  evidently  hearing  his  name  mentioned,  stepped 
forward,  and  asked  if  he  was  wanted.  Mr.  Mason  soon  joined  them, 
and  then  Mr.  Eustis  and  Mr.  McFarland,  when  Lieutenant  Fairfax  made 
known  the  object  of  his  visit.  The  captain  of  the  Trent  opposed  any 
thing  like  the  search  of  his  vessel,  nor  would  he  consent  to  show  papers 
or  passenger-list.  The  four  gentlemen  above  mentioned  protested  also 
against  being  arrested.  There  was  considerable  noise  among  the  passen 
gers  about  this  time,  which  led  Mr.  Houston  and  Mr.  Grace  to  repair 
on  board  with  some  six  or  eight  men,  all  armed.  After  several  unsuc 
cessful  efforts  to  persuade  Mr.  Mason  and  Mr.  Slidell  to  go  peaceably, 
Lieutenant  Fairfax  called  to  Mr.  Houston  and  ordered  him  to  return  to 
the  ship  with  the  information  that  the  four  gentlemen  named  in  Captain 
Wilkes's  order  were  on  board,  and  force  must  be  applied  to  take  them 
out  of  the  packet.  A  few  minutes  later  there  was  still  greater  excite 
ment  on  the  quarter-deck,  which  brought  Mr.  Grace  with  his  armed 
Marines.  Lieutenant  Fairfax,  however,  deemed  the  presence  of  any 
armed  men  unnecessary  and  only  calculated  to  alarm  the  ladies  present ; 
he  directed  Mr.  Grace  to  return  to  the  lower  deck,  where  he  had  been 
since  going  on  board. 

Less  than  half  an  hour  after  they  boarded  the  Trent,  the  second  armed 
cutter,  under  Lieutenant  Greer,  came  alongside.  He  carried  in  the 
third  cutter  eight  Marines  and  four  machinists,  in  addition  to  a  crew  of 
some  twelve  men.  When  the  Marines  and  some  armed  men  had  been 
formed  just  outside  of  the  main-deck  cabin,  where  the  four  gentlemen 
had  gone  to  pack  up  their  baggage,  Lieutenant  Fairfax  renewed  his 
efforts  to  induce  them  to  accompany  him.  They  still  refused  to  go, 
unless  force  was  applied.  Lieutenant  Fairfax  called  to  his  assistance 
four  or  five  officers,  and,  first  taking  hold  of  Mr.  Mason's  shoulder,  with 
another  officer  on  the  opposite  side,  he  went  as  far  as  the  gangway  of  the 
steamer,  and  delivered  him  over  to  Lieutenant  Greer,  to  be  placed  in 
the  boat.  He  then  returned  for  Mr.  Slidell,  who  insisted  that  he  must 
apply  considerable  force  to  cause  him  to  go.  Lieutenant  Fairfax  called 
in  three  officers,  and  Mr.  Slidell  was  taken  in  charge  and  handed  over 
to  Mr.  Greer.  Mr.  McFarland  and  Mr.  Eustis,  after  protesting,  went 
quietly  into  the  boat.  They  had  been  permitted  to  collect  their  bag 
gage*  but  were  sent  in  advance  of  it,  under  charge  of  Lieutenant  Greer. 

When  Mr.  Slidell  was  taken  prisoner  a  great  deal  of  noise  was  made 
by  some  of  the  passengers,  which  caused  Lieutenant  Greer  to  send  the 
Marines  into  the  cabin.  They  were  immediately  ordered  to  return  to 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  12$ 

( 

their  former  position  outside.  Lieutenant  Fairfax  carried  out  his  pur 
pose  without  using  any  force  beyond  what  appears  in  this  report.  The 
mail  agent,  who  was  a  retired  commander  in  the  British  navy,  had  much 
to  say  as  to  the  propriety  of  the  seizure,  but  Lieutenant  Fairfax  pur 
posely  avoided  all  official  intercourse  with  him.  When  the  American 
force  was  finally  leaving  the  steamer,  the  mail  agent  made  some  apology 
for  his  rude  conduct,  and  expressed  personally  his  approval  of  the  man 
ner  in  which  Lieutenant  Fairfax  carried  out  his  orders. 

In  the  report  of  his  participation  in  the  affair,  Lieutenant  Greer  says, 
"  When  I  first  went  on  board  with  the  Marines,  and  at  intervals  during 
my  stay,  the  officers  of  the  steamer  made  a  great  many  irritating  remarks 
to  each  other  and  to  the  passengers,  which  were  evidently  intended  for 
our  benefit.  Among  other  things  said,  were :  '  Did  you  ever  hear  of 
such  an  outrage?'  'Marines  on  board!  why,  this  looks  devilish  like 
mutiny  !'  '  These  Yankees  will  have  to  pay  well  for  this.'  '  This  is  the 
best  thing  in  the  world  for  the  South ;  England  will  open  the  blockade/ 
'  We  will  have  a  good  chance  at  them  now.'  '  Did  you  ever  hear  of  such 
a  piratical  act?'  'Why,  this  is  a  perfect  Bull's  Run!'  'They  would 
not  have  dared  to  have  done  it  if  an  English  man-of-war  had  been  in 
sight !'  The  mail  agent  (a  man  in  the  uniform  of  a  commander  in  the 
Royal  navy,  I  think)  was  very  indignant  and  talkative,  and  tried  several 
times  to  get  me  into  a  discussion  of  the  matter.  I  told  him  I  was  not 
there  for  that  purpose.  He  was  very  bitter ;  he  told  me  that  the  English 
squadron  would  raise  the  blockade  in  twenty  days  after  his  report  of  this 
outrage  got  home  ;  that  the  Northerners  might  as  well  give  up  now,  etc." 

The  families  of  Messrs.  Slidell  and  Eustis  having  declined  Captain 
Wilkes's  offer  for  their  accommodation  to  accompany  their  husbands, 
they  proceeded  in  the  Trent.  The  San  Jacinto  having  been  ordered  to 
report  at  Charlestown,  the  prisoners  were  retained  on  board  and  conveyed 
to  Fort  Warren,  where  they  were  committed  to  the  custody  of  Colonel 
Dimmick,  in  command  of  that  fortress. 

Captain  John  Schermerhorn  commanded  the  Marines  of  the  San  Jacinto 
on  this  occasion.  , 

One  of  the  important  expeditions  of  the  war  in  which  the  Marines  took 
an  active  part  was  the  occupation  of  Wassaw  Island,  December  5.  On 
that  day  Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  left  Tybee  Roads  before  day 
light,  with  the  steamers  Ottawa,  Seneca,  and  Pembina,  and  crossed  the 
bar  of  Wassaw  Sound.  He  approached  the  fort  on  Wassaw  Island  within 
a  mile,  and  seeing  neither  guns  nor  men,  did  not  fire,  but  sent  Lieutenant 
Barnes  to  it  with  a  white  flag.  He  found  it  an  enclosed  octagonal  work, 
with  platforms  for  eight  guns  on  the  water  faces.  The  land  faces  were 
protected  by  abatis.  The  work  was  well  constructed.  The  guns  had 
been  removed,  the  platforms  cut,  and  the  magazine  blown  up.  From 
the  freshness  of  the  foot-prints  and  other  signs,  it  appeared  to  have  been 


1 26  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

abandoned  but  a  short  time.  Adjoining  the  fort  were  huts  or  sheds  for  a 
large  garrison.  Some  lumber  and  bricks  remained;  everything  else  had 
been  carried  away. 

Another  minor  success  of  a  similar  nature  was  won  by  a  body  of  Ma 
rines  on  the  1 2th  of  the  same  month.  On  that  day  Lieutenant  J.  W. 
Nicholson,  commanding  the  United  States  steamer  Isaac  Smith,  stationed 
at  St.  Helena  Sound,  South  Carolina,  went  up  the  Ashepoo,  taking  the  Ma 
rines  of  the  Dale,  and  having  Colonel  Welsh,  of  the  army,  and  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Truxtun,  as  passengers.  He  landed  the  party  at  Fenwick's 
Island  Fort,  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  and  when  it  was  finished,  stood 
up  the  river  as  far  as  Mosquito  Creek.  Seeing  a  picket  of  several  mounted 
men  at  a  house  which,  on  a  previous  visit,  he  had  discovered  to  be  their 
head-quarters,  he  fired  at  them  once  with  a  rifle-shot,  and  again  with  an 
8-inch  shell.  This  driving  them  to  the  woods,  he  landed  the  Marines 
and  burned  the  quarters. 

Two  weeks  later,  the  Marine  guard  of  the  Dale,  acting  under  orders  of 
W.  T.  Truxtun,  Lieutenant-Commanding,  had  an  engagement  with  a 
small  body  of  Confederates  on  the  South  Edisto  River,  South  Carolina, 
near  a  house  said  to  be  the  property  of  Governor  Aiken.  The  Con 
federates  took  refuge  in  the  house,  but  were  finally  driven  off,  and  the 
Marines  returned  to  the  Dale  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 


CHAPTER    XXL 

1862. — The  Civil  War,  III. — Cedar  Keys — Appalachicola — Joint  Expedition  for  Oper 
ations  in  the  Waters  of  North  Carolina — Cumberland  Sound — Fort  Clinch — 
Fernandina. 

IN  January,  1862,  Flag-Officer  McKean  despatched  Commander  Em- 
mons,  with  the  steamer  Hatteras,  to  operate  against  the  rebels  at  Cedar 
Keys.  The  expedition  was  entirely  successful,  destroying  a  large  amount 
of  public  property,  including  military  stores,  and  capturing  a  battery  of 
two  guns  in  position  at  Sea-Horse  Key,  and  several  schooners  laden  and 
ready  to  run  the  blockade.  In  the  latter  part  of  March,  Commander 
Stellwagen  of  the  Mercedita  arrived  off  Appalachicola,  with  that  vessel 
and  the  Sagamore,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Drake,  and  organized  a 
boat  expedition,  the  immediate  object  of  which  was  the  capture  of  a 
number  of  vessels  understood  to  be  at  or  above  that  city.  The  place 
had  been  evacuated  by  the  soldiers,  some  six  hundred  in  number,  on  the 
first  appearance  of  the  naval  force.  No  resistance  was  offered,  and  the 
expedition  brought  out  several  vessels  and  destroyed  others,  owing  to 
the  difficulty  of  getting  them  over  the  bar. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  ;  127 

The  detachments  of  Marines  in  these  expeditions  were  commanded 
by  sergeants. 

Early  in  January  a  joint  expedition  of  the  army  and  Navy,  for  opera 
tions  in  the  waters  of  North  Carolina,  moved  from  Hampton  Roads 
under  command  of  Flag-Officer  L.  M.  Goldsborough  and  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  A.  E.  Burnside  respectively.  The  naval  force,  consisting  of  seven 
teen  light-draught  vessels,  with  an  armament  of  forty-eight  guns,  most 
of  them  of  heavy  calibre,  arrived  at  Hatteras  Inlet  on  the  i3th,  and  in 
two  days  succeeded,  with  great  difficulty,  in  passing  over  the  bulkhead 
and  through  the  narrow  and  tortuous  channel.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  some  weeks  later  that  the  transports  were  able  to  surmount  the 
obstacles  and  to  be  prepared  for  active  co-operation,  which  period  of 
delay  was  employed  in  obtaining  information  of  the  enemy's  position 
and  in  forming  plans  for  the  attack.  Roanoke  Island  lies  between  the 
two  bodies  of  water  known  as  Pamlico  and  Albemarle  Sounds,  being 
separated  from  the  main-land  by  a  shallow  channel,  Croatan  Sound. 
Opposite  the  southern  extremity  of  the  island  the  main-land  juts  out  in  a 
low,  marshy  point,  around  which  the  vessels  threaded  their  way,  and  on 
the  morning  of  February  7  moved  up  Croatan  Sound  in  three  columns, 
commanded  respectively  by  Lieutenants  Werden,  Murray,  and  Daven 
port,  the  whole  under  the  immediate  command  of  Commander  S.  C. 
Rowan.  The  enemy  had  formed  an  extensive  obstruction  of  a  double 
row  of  piles  and  sunken  vessels,  stretching  across  the  sound  between  the 
batteries  on  Pork  and  Weir  Points,  and  behind  this  their  vessels,  eight 
in  number,  were  drawn  up.  By  half-past  ten  o'clock,  the  squadron  had 
approached  near  enough  to  begin  the  attack,  directing  most  of  its  fire 
against  the  fort  on  Pork  Point,  but  not  neglecting  the  vessels  nor  the 
other  works,  all  of  which  returned  the  fire,  though  with  but  slight  effect. 
By  noon  the  engagement  had  become  general,  and  was  continued  so 
hotly  that  at  two  o'clock  the  battered  barracks  behind  the  fort  were 
burning  furiously,  and  at  half-past  four  the  batteries  for  the  most  part 
ceased  for  a  while  to  reply  to  the  firing  of  the  fleet.  Five  of  the  enemy's 
steamers,  apparently  injured,  retired  behind  the  point,  and  the  first 
landing  of  troops  took  place.  Throughout  the  sound  the  depth  of  water 
is  but  slight,  and  even  at  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  more  from  the  shore  it 
scarcely  exceeds  the  depth  of  seven  feet. 

As  none  of  the  vessels,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  drew  less  than  this 
amount  of  water,  and  some  of  them  drew  more  than  eight  feet,  the  dis 
cretion  of  their  commanders  was  taxed  to  the  utmost  in  placing  them  so 
that  their  guns  would  tell  effectively.  The  landing  was  effected,  in  light- 
draught  steamers  and  boats,  at  Ashby's  harbor,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy 
guarding  the  shore  being  soon  cleared  away  by  some  shrapnels  from  the 
guns  of  the  Delaware.  At  five  o'clock  the  batteries  again  opened,  and 
the  vessels  of  the  enemy  again  came  out,  but  were  soon  compelled  to 


128  '  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

retire,  and  at  six,  the  firing  being  only  from  Pork  Point  and  at  long 
intervals,  the  signal  to  cease  firing  was  made.  By  midnight  some  ten 
thousand  troops  had  been  safely  landed  at  Ashby's  harbor,  where  they 
were  joined  by  six  launches  from  the  fleet,  with  their  howitzers,  to  hold 
the  road  during  the  night,  and  be  ready  for  active  operations  in  the 
morning. 

It  was  arranged  by  General  Burnside  that  his  forces  should  move  at  a 
very  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  begin  their  attack  upon 
the  enemy ;  and  it  was  agreed  that,  as  the  direction  they  would  have  to 
take  would  probably  soon  bring  them  into  the  line  of  fire  of  the  fleet, 
the  vessels  should  not  renew  operations  until  it  was  known  that  their  fire 
would  not  be  destructive  to  friend  and  foe  alike.  At  nine  o'clock,  a 
continuous  firing  in  the  interior  of  the  island  announced  that  the  army 
was  hotly  engaged  about  midway  between  the  landing  and  Pork  Point, 
and  the  vessels  at  once  moved  up  to  re-engage  the* forts.  This  they  con 
tinued  until  the  firing  in  the  interior  slackened,  when,  taking  it  for 
granted  that  General  Burnside  was  carrying  everything  before  him  and 
approaching  the  rear  of  the  batteries,  Flag-Officer  Goldsborotigh  gave 
the  order  to  desist,  and  proceeded  to  the  task  of  clearing  a  passage-way 
through  the  obstructions.  By  four  o'clock  this  was  accomplished,  and 
at  about  the  same  time  that  the  vessels  succeeded  in  bursting  through  the 
barricades,  the  American  flag  was  unfurled  over  the  battery  on  Pork 
Point.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  the  enemy  himself  fired  the  works  on 
Redstone  Point,  together  with  a  steamer  which  had  taken  refuge  under 
its  guns,  and  thus  ended  the  eventful  struggle  of  two  days,  which  secured 
complete  possession  of  the  island  of  Roanoke. 

Retreating  from  Roanoke  Island,  the  rebel  naval  fleet  fled  up  the  sound 
and  into  Pasquotank  River,  towards  Elizabeth  City,  Commander  Rowan 
pursuing  them  with  a  flotilla  of  fourteen  vessels,  and  anchoring  for  the 
night  a  few  miles  from  Fort  Cobb.  On  the  morning  of  the  loth  the 
rebel  steamers  were  discovered  drawn  up  behind  the  battery,  which 
mounted  four  heavy  guns,  and  supported  by  a  schooner — the  Black 
Warrior — moored  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  carrying  two  heavy  32- 
pounders.  When  within  long  range,  fire  was  opened  from  the  battery, 
the  schooner,  and  the  steamers ;  but  the  vessels  moved  on  silently  and 
steadily,  shot  and  shell  falling  thick  and  fast  among  them.  When  within 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  battery,  Commander  Rowan  gave  the 
signal  for  a  dash  at  the  enemy;  fire  was  opened  with  telling  effect,  and 
the  vessels  put  at  their  utmost  speed.  The  enemy  was  completely  de 
moralized  by  this  bold  and  wholly  unexpected  movement;  the  Black 
Warrior  was  set  on  fire  by  her  officers  and  destroyed,  the  fort  abandoned, 
and  the  entire  fleet  captured  or  destroyed. 

Passing  up  the  river,  the  flotilla  took  possession  of  Elizabeth  City, 
which  the  enemy  had  attempted  to  fire  before  hastily  leaving  it,  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 29 

Lieutenant  Murray  was  despatched  with  a  small  force  to  Edenton,  of 
which  he  quietly  took  possession  on  the  i2th,  and  was  then  sent  to 
obstruct  the  Chesapeake  and  Albemarle  Canal,  a  duty  which  he  success 
fully  accomplished.  At  the  same  time,  Commander  Rowan  made  a 
reconnoissance  of  the  Chowan  River  as  far  as  Winton,  where  a  sharp 
engagement  took  place  on  the  i9th,  but  which  was,  the  following  morning, 
occupied  by  the  troops  under  Colonel  Hawkins,  who  entered  the  town 
and  destroyed  the  military  stores  and  quarters  found  there. 

Flag-Officer  Goldsborough  having  been  recalled  to  Hampton  Roads,  a 
combined  army  and  Navy  expedition,  under  General  Burnside  and  Com 
mander  Rowan,  left  Hatteras  Inlet  and  arrived  at  Slocum's  Creek,  the 
point  selected  for  the  disembarkation  of  the  troops,  on  the  i2th  of 
March.  The  next  morning  the  landing  of  troops  began,  gunboats 
shelling  the  woods  at  the  same  time.  Six  naval  boat-howitzers  with 
their  crews,  under  Lieutenant  R.  S.  McCook,  were  landed  to  assist  in 
the  attack  on  the  enemy's  works.  About  4  o'clock  P.M.,  the  first  of 
the  enemy's  batteries  opened  on  the  boats.  The  firing  ceased  at  sun 
down.  On  the  1 4th,  the  army  having  engaged  the  enemy,  Commander 
Rowan  moved  up  the  river  with  his  fleet,  and  the  enemy  abandoned  the 
forts  in  succession  under  the  pressure  of  the  combined  columns.  On 
arriving  at  Newberne,  the  enemy  having  fled,  Commander  Rowan  took 
possession  of  the  place.  The  approach  by  river  to  Newberne  was  ob 
structed  by  piles  and  torpedoes,  from  which  the  vessels  sustained  some 
injury,  and  the  passage  was  disputed  by  six  forts.  After  the  fall  of  New 
berne,  Lieutenant  A.  Murray  was  despatched  with  a  naval  column  to 
take  possession  of  Washington,  North  Carolina.  He  was  accompanied 
by  a  detachment  from  the  army.  He  arrived  on  the  2ist  of  March, 
and  the  place  surrendered  to  him  without  resistance. 

The  batteries  on  shore  having,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  April, 
opened  fire  on  Fort  Macon,  Commander  Samuel  Lockwood,  senior 
officer  of  the  blockading  fleet  off  Beaufort,  prepared  his  vessels  for 
action  and  proceeded  within  range  of  the  fort.  Fire  was  opened  from 
the  steamers  Daylight,  State  of  Georgia,  Chippewa,  and  bark  Gemsbok, 
which  was  continued  about  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  In  the  afternoon  a 
flag  of  truce  was  displayed  from  the  fort,  which  on  the  next  morning 
surrendered  to  Major-General  Burnside.  In  these  actions  the  Marines 
on  board  the  vessels  were  sergeant's  guards. 

On  the  last  day  of  February,  1862,  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont  left  Port 
Royal  in  the  Wabash,  and  on  the  2d  of  March  transferred  his  flag  to 
the  sloop-of-war  Mohican,  and  entered  Cumberland  Sound  in  that  vessel, 
accompanied  by  the  following  vessels,  sailing  in  the  order  named : 
Ottawa,  Mohican,  Ellen,  Seminole,  Pawnee,  Pocahontas,  Flag,  Florida, 
James  Adger,  Bienville,  Alabama,  Keystone  State,  Seneca,  Huron, 
Pembina,  Isaac  Smith,  Penguin,  Potomska,  armed  cutter  Henrietta, 


1 30  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

armed  transport  McClellan  (the  latter  having  on  board  a  battalion  of 
Marines  under  command  of  Major  Reynolds),  and  the  transports  Em 
pire  City,  Marion,  Star  of  the  South,  Belvidere,  Boston,  and  Georgia, 
containing  a  brigade  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Wright. 

The  first  important  step  in  the  series  of  victories  was  to  hoist  the  flag 
on  Fort  Clinch,  the  first  of  the  captured  national  forts  on  which  the 
ensign  of  the  Union  resumed  its  proper  place  after  the  first  proclamation 
of  the  President.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  town  of  Fer- 
nandina  was  occupied  by  the  battalion  of  Marines  under  Major  Rey 
nolds,  and  a  company  of  Marines  and  sailors,  under  Lieutenant  Miller, 
was  sent  from  the  Mohican  to  hold  Fort  Clinch.  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont 
said,  "We  captured  Port  Royal,  but  Fernandina  and  Fort  Clinch  have 
been  given  to  us."  One  principal  and  ultimate  object  of  the  expedition 
was,  to  take  and  keep  under  control  the  whole  line  of  the  sea-coast  of 
Georgia,  the  commander  knowing,  to  use  the  language  of  the  original 
paper,  "that  the  naval  power  that  controlled  the  sea-coast  of  Georgia 
controlled  the  State  of  Georgia." 

On  the  yth  of  March,  Commander  S.  W.  Godon  was  despatched  with  a 
division  of  gunboats,  consisting  of  the  Mohican,  Pocahontas,  and  the 
Potomska,  to  hold  Brunswick ;  and  on  the  same  day  another  division  of 
the  squadron  was  sent  to  Jacksonville,  both  places  surrendering  without 
opposition. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  Commander  C.  R.  P.  Rodgers  received  the 
surrender  of  St.  Augustine,  the  citizens  raising  the  United  States  flag. 
This  expedition  gave  to  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont  possession  of  Fort  Clinch, 
Fernandina,  St.  Mary's,  Cumberland  Island  and  Sound,  Amelia  Sound, 
Jacksonville,  St.  Augustine,  and  Brunswick, — in  fact,  the  coast  and  in 
land  waters  from  St.  Simon's  southward. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

1862. — The  Civil  War,  IV. — Destruction  of  the  Cumberland  and  Congress — Merrimac 
and  Monitor — Capture  of  Norfolk — Action  at  Drury's  Bluff — Pass  Christian — Ex 
pedition  up  Santee  River — Morris  Island. 

"  ONE  of  the  most  important  contests  in  the  history  of  modern  naval 
warfare  was  the  fight  in  Hampton  Roads,  in  which  the  famous  Con 
federate  ram,  the  Merrimac,  was  engaged.  On  the  8th  of  March  one  of 
the  lookout  vessels  of  the  squadron  lying  there  reported,  by  signals,  that 
the  enemy  was  coming  out  from  the  James  River;  and  soon  the  iron- 
plated  steam-battery  Merrimac,  accompanied  by  several  small  gunboats, 
was  seen  passing  Se well's  Point  and  standing  towards  Newport  News. 
Passing  close  by  the  frigate  Congress,  to  which  she  delivered  a  destructive 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  131 

broadside,  this  formidable  monster  bore  down  upon  the  Cumberland, 
sloop-of-war,  in  command,  in  the  temporary  absence  of  Commander  Rad- 
ford,  of  Lieutenant  George  U.  Morris.  The  Cumberland  at  once  opened 
fire,  but  entirely  without  effect,  upon  her  antagonist,  which  stood  on  and 
struck  her  under  the  starboard  fore-channels,  at  the  same  time  delivering 
her  fire.  The  destruction  was  terrible.  So  great,  indeed,  was  the  injury 
inflicted  by  this  crushing  blow  that,  notwithstanding  the  pumps  were  kept 
actively  at  work,  the  water  rose  rapidly  in  the  hold,  and  in  about  two 
hours  had  drowned  the  forward  magazine.  All  this  time  the  gallant 
crew  had  kept  up  an  active  fire,  and  did  not  desist  until  3.35  P.M.,  when 
the  water  had  risen  to  the  main  hatchway,  the  ship  canted  to  port,  and, 
after  a  parting  volley,  each  man  took  his  chance  of  life  by  jumping  over 
board.  All  of  the  wounded  who  were  able  to  walk  had  been  ordered  up, 
but  those  who  had  been  carried  into  the  sick-bay  were  so  mangled  that  it 
was  impossible  to  save  them,  and  they  were  left  to  go  down  with  the 
vessel  they  had  served  so  well.  Of  the  gallantry  of  this  action,  which 
has  furnished  one  of  the  brightest  as  well  as  one  of  the  saddest  pages  to 
the  naval  history  of  the  world,  it  is  difficult  to  speak  in  fitting  terms; 
and  perhaps  no  better  words  can  be  found  than  the  simple  sentence  in 
which  Lieutenant  Morris  concluded  his  report  to  his  commanding  officer, 
who  arrived  at  Newport  News  only  in  time  to  see  his  vessel  go  down  : 
'  I  will  only  say,  in  conclusion,  that  all  did  their  duty,  and  we  sank  with 
the  American  flag  at  the  peak.'  The  Cumberland  lost  more  than  a 
hundred  men,  nearly  one-third  of  her  crew. 

"  While  the  Merrimac  was  engaged  with  the  Cumberland,  the  smaller 
vessels  accompanying  her  attacked  the  Congress,  killing  and  wounding 
many  of  her  crew;  and  her  commander,  seeing  the  fate  of  the  Cumber 
land,  set  sails,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  tug,  ran  the  vessel  ashore.  At 
half-past  three  the  Merrimac  took  position  astern  of  her  at  a  distance  of 
a  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  and  raked  her  with  shells,  one  of  the  smaller 
steamers  meanwhile  keeping  up  a  fire  on  her  starboard  quarter,  and  two 
others,  approaching  from  up  the  James  River,  opening  fire  with  precision 
and  doing  great  damage.  The  two  stern  guns  were  now  the  only  means 
of  defence  left  the  Congress,  and  these  were  soon  disabled,  one  being 
dismounted  and  the  other  having  its  muzzle  knocked  away,  and  the  men 
swept  away  from  them  rapidly  and  with  terrible  slaughter  by  the  cruel 
fire  of  the  enemy. 

"  Meanwhile,  the  steam-frigate  Roanoke,  the  vessel  of  Captain  Marston, 
the  senior  officer,  and  the  Minnesota,  the  most  powerful  vessel  in  the 
Roads,  were  aground  at  some  miles'  distance;  and  Lieutenant  Pender- 
grast,  on  whom,  at  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Smith,  who  fell  at  his  post 
at  half-past  four  o'clock,  devolved  the  command  of  the  Congress,  seeing 
the  rapid  slaughter  of  his  men,  without  any  prospect  of  relief,  and  being 
unable  to  bring  his  guns  to  bear  upon  the  enemy,  while  his  ship  was  on 

9 


132  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

fire  in  several  places,  concluded  to  haul  down  his  colors,  and  suffer  no 
further  loss  of  life.  An  officer  from  the  Merrimac  boarded  the  vessel, 
and  soon  after  a  tug  came  alongside,  whose  captain  demanded  of  the 
crew  to  surrender  and  leave  the  ship,  as  he  intended  to  burn  her  im 
mediately.  A  sharp  fire  from  the  troops  on  the  shore,  however,  soon, 
compelled  the  tug  to  leave,  and  the  Merrimac  again  fired  several  shells, 
after  which  she  hauled  off  to  engage  the  Minnesota,  and  Lieutenant 
Pendergrast,  left  to  himself,  made  all  haste  to  get  his  men  ashore,  the 
ship  being  on  fire  in  several  places,  and  near  the  magazine. 

"The  Minnesota,  upon  the  first  appearance  of  the  battery,  had  got  under 
way  to  engage  her,  but  after  proceeding  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of 
Newport  News,  had  there  grounded,  and  as  the  tide  was  ebbing  she  could 
not  be  floated  off.  Here,  then,  the  great  frigate  lay  at  four  o'clock, 
when  the  Merrimac,  with  her  two  consorts,  leaving  the  Congress  to  her 
fate,  bore  down  upon  her.  Fortunately,  however,  the  iron  battery  drew 
too  much  water  to  come  within  a  mile  of  her  ;  but  the  two  other  steamers, 
firing  rifled  guns,  did  much  damage  in  killing  and  wounding  men,  until 
the  heavy  guns  of  the  Minnesota  drove  them  off,  followed  at  seven  o'clock 
by  the  Merrimac,  when  all  three  steamed  towards  Norfolk. 

"The  firing  of  her  broadside  guns  had  crowded  the  Minnesota  still 
farther  up  on  the  mud  bank,  and  although  all  hands  were  at  work  during 
the  night  with  tugs  and  hawsers,  it  was  found  impossible  to  move  her. 
The  situation  of  the  vessel,  hopelessly  grounded,  with  the  certainty  of 
the  renewal  of  the  attack  by  her  apparently  invulnerable  antagonist  in  the 
morning,  was  unpleasant  in  the  extreme ;  but  at  midnight  a  new  and 
powerful  actor  arrived  upon  the  scene.  The  ironclad  Monitor,  Com 
mander  John  L.  Worden,  the  first  of  three  iron-clad  vessels  which  had 
been  built  by  the  Navy  Department,  had  arrived,  most  opportunely,  at 
Hampton  Roads,  at  nine  o'clock,  and  immediately  received  orders  from 
Captain  Marston  to  proceed  to  Newport  News  and  protect  the  Minnesota 
from  the  attack  of  the  Merrimac ;  and  all  untried  as  the  strange  little 
craft  was,  she  was  warmly  welcomed  as  she  anchored  alongside. 

"At  eight  o'clock  the  following  morning  the  Merrimac  was  perceived 
approaching.  When  she  had  come  within  a  mile  of  the  Minnesota  that 
vessel  opened  upon  her  and  signalled  the  Monitor  to  attack.  Then  came 
the  contest  which  was  to  exert  so  important  an  influence  upon  naval 
architecture.  Running  down  the  wake  of  the  frigate,  the  tiny  Monitor 
placed  herself  alongside  of  her  huge  antagonist  and  fired  gun  after  gun, 
which  were  returned  by  whole  broadsides  without  effect.  After  a  time 
the  little  vessel  began  manoeuvring,  shooting  by  her  antagonist  and 
sending  her  shots  first  into  the  bow,  and  again  raking  her  stern,  while 
broadside  after  broadside  was  fired  from  the  Merrimac,  either  passing 
quite  over,  or,  if  they  struck,  glancing  harmless  from  her  bomb-proof 
turret. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  133 

"  Finding  that  she  could  make  no  impression  on  the  Monitor,  the  Merri- 
mac  again  gave  her  attention  to  the  Minnesota,  returning  a  tremendous 
broadside  from  the  frigate  with  a  shot  from  her  rifled  bow-gun,  which  went 
crashing  through  the  vessel,  bursting  in  the  boatswain's  room,  and  setting 
fire  to  the  ship.  The  fire  was,  however,  promptly  extinguished.  Her 
second  shell  exploded  the  boiler  of  the  tug-boat  alongside  ;  but  an  in 
cessant  fire  from  the  frigate  was  now  concentrated  upon  her,  some  fifty  solid 
shot  striking  upon  her  sides,  without,  however,  any  apparent  effect.  The 
Monitor  by  this  time  again  came  between  the  contending  vessels,  forcing 
the  battery  to  change  her  position.  In  doing  this  she  grounded,  and  the 
broadsides  of  the  Minnesota  were  again  poured  upon  her.  As  soon  as  she 
got  off  she  stood  down  the  bay,  chased  at  full  speed  by  the  Monitor. 
Suddenly  she  turned  and  made  for  her  antagonist,  but  a  plunging  shot 
through  the  roof  arrested  her  dash,  and  for  a  time  the  encounter  between 
this  seemingly  ill-matched  pair  was  again  hot  and  furious.  After  a  time 
the  Merrimac  seemed  to  tire  of  the  fray,  and  again  headed  towards  the 
frigate.  It  was  a  trying  moment  for  the  Minnesota,  fast  aground  and 
badly  crippled ;  but  the  enemy  had  no  mind  to  renew  the  experience 
of  the  morning,  and,  it  being  then  shortly  after  noon,  retreated  to 
Sewell's  Point.  During  the  night,  Captain  Van  Brunt  succeeded  in 
getting  his  ship  afloat,  and  next  morning  was  safely  at  anchor  near 
Fortress  Monroe. 

"  Towards  the  close  of  this  terrific  engagement  a  percussion  shell 
exploded  against  the  look-out  chink  of  the  pilot-house  of  the  Monitor, 
where  Captain  Worden,  who  so  brilliantly  fought  his  little  vessel,  and 
who  thus  made  himself  in  a  few  hours  the  hero  of  the  day,  was  stationed 
throughout  the  engagement.  The  result  was  a  severe  injury  to  the  eyes 
of  that  officer,  which,  with  the  effects  of  the  concussion,  so  disabled  him 
as  to  oblige  him  to  place  the  vessel  in  command  of  Lieutenant  Greene, 
executive  officer,  and  to  be  subsequently  removed  to  Washington."* 

Lieutenant  Morris,  in  his  supplementary  report  of  the  action,  says, 
4t  Owing  to  the  hurried  manner  in  which  my  official  report  to  Captain 
Radford  was  made,  I  omitted  to  mention  to  you  the  gallant  conduct  of 
Lieutenant  Charles  Heywood,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  whose  bravery 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  fight  with  the  Merrimac  won  my  highest 
applause.  'May  I  respectfully  ask  that  this  be  appended  to  my  former 
report."  The  first  shot  from  the  Merrimac  killed  nine  Marines  on  the 
Cumberland,  who  formed  part  of  the  Marine  division  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  Heywood.  In  the  account  of  such  a  notable  fight, 
it  is  not  out  of  place  to  give  a  list  of  Marines  saved,  which  is  as 
follows : 

Orderly  Sergeant  Sweeney,  Sergeants  Brown  and  Callahan,  Corporals 

*  "  Records  of  Living  Officers,"  Hammersly,  First  Edition. 


1 34  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Harris,  Stevenson,  and  Craig,  Drummer  Joshlyn,  Fifer  Baxter,  Pri 
vates  Lyons,  Martin,  Bunker,  2d,  W.  McFaddin,  Deady,  Lanning, 
Goetz,  Daley,  Howard,  Murley,  Learey,  McCarthy,  Small,  Wilkes,  and 
O'Connor. 

It  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  last  shot  at  the  Merrimac  was  from  the 
division  of  Marines. 

The  St.  Lawrence  narrowly  escaped  destruction,  while  she  was  hard 
aground,  some  distance  from  the  Minnesota,  on  the  first  day.  The 
Merrimac,  about  7  P.M.,  planted  a  loo-pounder  percussion  shell  under 
the  starboard  counter  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  entered  the  ward-room, 
passing  close  to  the  after  magazine  hatch  without  exploding. 

Of  a  portion  of  the  famous  battle,  Captain  Van  Brunt,  of  the  Minne 
sota,  said,  in  his  official  report,  "The  Merrimac  ran  down  near  to  the 
Rip-raps,  and  then  turned  into  the  channel  through  which  I  had  come. 
Again  all  hands  were  called  to  quarters,  and  when  she  approached  within 
a  mile  of  us  I  opened  upon  her  with  my  stern  guns,  and  made  signal  to 
the  Monitor  to  attack  the  enemy.  She  immediately  ran  down  in  my 
wake,  right  within  range  of  the  Merrimac,  completely  covering  my  ship 
as  far  as  was  possible  with  her  diminutive  dimensions,  and,  much  to  my 
astonishment,  laid  herself  right  alongside  of  the  Merrimac,  and  the  con 
trast  was  that  of  a  pigmy  to  a  giant.  Gun  after  gun  was  fired  by  the 
Monitor,  which  was  returned  with  whole  broadsides  from  the  rebels,  with 
no  more  effect,  apparently,  than  so  many  pebble-stones  thrown  by  a  child. 
After  a  while  they  commenced  manoeuvring,  and  we  could  see  the  little 
battery  point  her  bow  for  the  rebels,  with  the  intention,  as  I  thought,  of 
sending  a  shot  through  her  bow  port-hole ;  then  she  would  shoot  by  her 
and  rake  her  through  the  stern.  In  the  mean  time  the  rebels  were  pouring 
in  broadside  after  broadside,  but  almost  all  her  shot  flew  over  the  little  sub 
merged  propeller,  and  when  they  struck  the  bomb-proof  tower  the  shot 
glanced  off  without  producing  any  effect,  clearly  establishing  the  fact 
that  wooden  vessels  cannot  contend  with  iron-clad  ones ;  for  never  before 
was  anything  like  it  dreamed  of  by  the  greatest  enthusiast  in  maritime 
warfare." 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Corps  who  were 
in  this  engagement :  Minnesota,  Captain  W.  L.  Shuttleworth  and  First 
Lieutenant  W.  H.  Cartter;  Roanoke,  Captain  M.  R.  Kintzing ;  Cum 
berland,  First  Lieutenant  Charles  Heywood  ;  Congress,  First  Lieutenant 
Joseph  F.  Baker;  St.  Lawrence,  Second  Lieutenant  Richard  S.  Collum. 

On  the  8th  of  May  the  Monitor  moved  up  and  shelled  Sewell's  Point. 
The  Merrimac  came  out,  but  though  the  Monitor  kept  well  up  towards 
her,  she  refused  to  engage  her  plucky  adversary,  and  soon  retired  under 
the  point.  This  was  her  last  appearance,  for,  two  days  after,  Norfolk 
surrendered  to  the  military  forces  under  General  Wool,  and  the  next 
morning  a  terrific  explosion,  in  the  direction  of  Craney  Island,  an- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 3  5 

nounced  to  the  Navy  in  Hampton  Roads  that  the  once  dreaded  battery 
was  no  more.  Lieutenant  Selfridge,  of  the  flag-officer's  staff,  proceeding 
in  a  tug  to  Sewell's  Point,  raised  the  American  flag  over  the  abandoned 
works,  and  the  ships  sailed  up  to  Norfolk  unmolested. 

The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  the  ships  which 
assisted  in  shelling  Sewell's  Point  on  this  occasion  :  Susquehanna,  Cap 
tain  P.  R.  Fendall ;  San  Jacinto,  Captain  L.  L.  Dawson  ;  St.  Lawrence, 
Second  Lieutenant  R.  S.  Collum ;  Dakota,  Seminole,  and  Mount  Ver- 
non,  sergeants'  guards,  each. 

Two  days  before  the  fall  of  Norfolk,  three  gunboats, — the  Galena, 
Aroostook,  and  Port  Royal, — under  Commander  John  Rodgers,  were  sent 
up  the  James  River,  in  accordance  with  the  orders  of  the  President.  On 
the  nth  the  Monitor  and  Naugatuck  joined  the  expedition  at  James 
town  Island,  and  the  little  squadron,  after  numerous  engagements  with 
the  enemy's  batteries  and  sharp-shooters,  arrived  at  Drury's  Bluff,  eight 
miles  from  Richmond,  where  they  encountered  a  heavy  battery  and  two 
barriers  formed  of  piles  and  sunken  vessels.  The  Galena  and  Monitor 
ran  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  Bluff,  but  the  latter  was  obliged  to 
drop  down  again  some  distance,  being  unable  to  elevate  her  guns  suffi 
ciently  to  make  them  tell  efficiently  upon  the  battery.  After  an  action 
of  three  hours,  the  gunboats,  having  exhausted  their  ammunition,  returned 
to  City  Point,  the  Naugatuck  disabled  by  the  bursting  of  a  gun. 

In  this  engagement  the  Marine  guard  of  the  Galena  was  commanded 
by  a  sergeant.  Private  Joseph  Johnson  was  killed  during  the  action. 
Commander  Rodgers  says,  in  a  report  of  the  action,  "The  Marines 
were  efficient  with  their  muskets,  and  they,  when  ordered  to  fill  vacancies 
at  the  guns,  did  it  well." 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  25 th  of  March  two  rebel  steamers  were  dis 
covered  at  Pass  Christian.  The  New  London,  Lieutenant-Commanding 
Abner  Reed,  the  blockading  vessel,  got  under  way  immediately  and  stood 
for  that  place,  approaching  as  near  as  practicable  on  account  of  shoal 
water.  The  rebel  boats  approached  within  two  thousand  yards,  when 
the  engagement  commenced,  the  New  London  beginning  the  action  on 
finding  the  enemy  not  disposed  to  come  near  her.  The  fight  lasted  one 
hour  and  fifty  minutes,  during  which  time  the  New  London  fired  over 
one  hundred  and  sixty  shots  of  all  kinds.  The  steamers  of  the  enemy 
engaged  were  the  Oregon  and  Pamlico.  After  the  engagement  the 
enemy  left  for  the  lakes.  The  New  London  remained  on  the  ground 
until  they  were  out  of  sight,  and  then  returned  to  Ship  Island.  The 
detachment  of  Marines  on  board  the  New  London  was  commanded  by  a 
sergeant. 

On  the  25th  of  the  same  month  the  mayor  of  St.  Augustine,  Florida, 
and  the  members  of  the  City  Council  joined  in  the  following  letter  to 
Flag-Officer  Du  Pont,  commanding  the  United  States  naval  forces  off 


136  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Florida:  "The  undersigned,  the  mayor  and  City  Council  and  citizens 
of  St.  Augustine,  beg  leave  to  express  their  heart-felt  gratification  and 
satisfaction  at  the  polite  and  urbane  course  of  Major  Isaac  T.  Doughty 
and  officers  of  the  United  States  Marines  since  their  arrival  in  and  occu 
pancy  of  the  city,  and  of  the  good  conduct  and  discipline  of  the  troops 
under  their  command,  and  also  their  unfeigned  regret  at  their  departure, 
and  respectfully  ask  that  our  high  appreciation  of  their  gentlemanly  de 
meanor  be  conveyed  to  Major  Doughty  and  his  command.  They  would 
also  express  their  desire,  and  that  of  the  citizens  in  general,  that  the 
battalion  of  Marines  under  Major  Reynolds,  which  they  understand  is 
now  off  our  harbor,  if  the  same  be  compatible  with  the  plans  of  the 
United  States  government,  be  stationed  within  our  city." 

The  command  of  Major  Reynolds  having  been  ordered  to  Washington, 
Commodore  Du  Pont  detached  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Lowry,  and  ordered 
him  for  duty  on  the  Wabash,  the  flag-ship. 

In  June,  Commander  Prentiss,  senior  officer  commanding  off  George 
town,  South  Carolina,  informed  Flag-Officer  Du  Pont  that  if  he  would 
send  him  three  small  vessels  drawing  about  eight  or  ten  feet.of  water,  and 
a  guard  of  fifty  Marines,  he  would  rim  up  the  Santee  River  and  destroy 
the  railroad  bridge,  and  thus  cut  off  communication  between  Charleston 
and  the  interior  of  the  State.  On  receipt  of  this  information,  Flag-Officer 
Du  Pont  ordered  Lieutenant  Lowry  of  the  Marines  to  take  passage  in 
the  Hope  and  report  to  Commander  Marchand,  and  to  place  on  board  of 
the  Hall  and  Henry  Andrew  the  Marine  guards  of  the  James  Adger,  Key 
stone  State,  and  Albatross.  Of  these,  Lieutenant  Lowry  assumed  com 
mand,  and  with  them  he  proceeded  to  Georgetown,  South  Carolina,  and 
reported  to  Commander  Prentiss  "  for  special  service  in  the  neighboring 
waters."  The  Marines,  about  sixty  in  number,  were  divided  up  in 
squads  and  placed  as  sharp-shooters  on  the  different  vessels.  On  the 
24th  the  expedition  started  up  the  Santee  River  to  destroy  the  bridge. 
The  Marines  were  constantly  firing  at  the  cavalry,  who  followed  along 
the  banks  of  the  river.  Arriving  at  the  plantation  of  Mr.  Arthur  Blake, 
an  English  subject,  Lieutenant  Lowry  landed  the  Marines  and  examined 
the  house,  and  attempted  to  capture  a  battery  which  had  taken  position 
in  the  woods  near  by.  They  discovered  unmistakable  evidence  that  the 
house  had  been  in  use  as  quarters  for  the  enemy,  and  found  arms  secreted 
there.  After  a  skirmish  of  about  an  hour,  the  force  returned  to  the  ship 
with  but  two  Marines  wounded.  By  order  of  Commander  Prentiss,  the 
house  of  Mr.  Blake  was  burned.  The  expedition  failed  to  destroy  the 
bridge,  on  account  of  lack  of  water  in  the  river  for  the  vessels  to  operate. 
The  Marines  remained  in  the  waters  about  Georgetown,  the  Santee  and 
Wahamau  Rivers  until  July  i,  when  they  returned  to  their  various  ships. 

Early  in  August,  Commander  Foxhall  Parker,  commanding  the 
Wabash,  was  ordered  to  take  one  hundred  Marines  and  one  hundred 


JOHN  L.  BROOME, 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  U.S.  MARINE  COF 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  137 

sailors,  to  go  ashore  on  Morris  Island,  and  put  two  2oo-pound  Parrott  and 
two  2oo-pound  Whitworth  guns  in  battery;  the  guard  of  the  Wabash, 
about  sixty  Marines,  and  the  guard  of  the  New  Ironsides,  about  thirty- 
five,  accompanied  by  Second  Lieutenant  James  B.  Young,  all  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Lowry,  landed  and  reported  to  Captain  Parker. 
For  two  weeks  the  Marines  and  sailors  worked,  hauling  their  guns  up  the 
beach  and  getting  them  in  battery.  The  Marines  remained  with  the 
naval  battery  until  the  arrival  of  the  Marine  battalion  on  Morris  Island, 
under  command  of  Major  Zeilin,  when  the  Wabash  men  joined  them, 
and  the  Ironsides  men,  under  Lieutenant  Young,  returned  to  their  ship. 

The  officers  of  the  Corps  attached  to  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  and  on  the  ist  of  January,  1863,  were : 
Flag-ship  Minnesota,  Captain  W.  L.  Shuttleworth,  Second  Lieutenant 
Charles  F.  Williams;  sloop  Vandalia,  First  Lieutenant  C.  H.  Nye. 

The  officers  of  the  Corps  attached  to  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron 
during  the  year  1862  and  on  the  ist  of  January,  1863,  were  as  follows  : 
Flag-ship  Wabash,  Captain  James  Lewis  and  First  Lieutenant  H.  B. 
Lowry ;  iron-clad  steamer  New  Ironsides,  First  Lieutenant  H.  A.  Bart- 
lett  and  Second  Lieutenant  James  B.  Young  ;  Powhatan,  First  Lieu 
tenant  Percival  C.  Pope ;  store-ship  Vermont,  Second  Lieutenant  Alfred 
Devereux. 

A  naval  station  having  been  created  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Marines  were  ordered  there  under  the  command  of  Captain  M. 
R.  Kintzing,  with  the  following  officers :  First  Lieutenants  Frank  Mun- 
roe,  S.  H.  Matthews,  and  Second  Lieutenant  F.  L.  Church.  Lieutenant 
Church  was  subsequently  ordered  to  command  the  guard  of  the  flag-ship 
Black  Hawk. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

1862.— The  Civil  War,  V.— The  Capture  of  New  Orleans— Passing  the  Batteries  at 
Vicksburg — The  Ariel  captured  by  the  Alabama. 

ON  the  3d  of  February,  1862,  Captain  D.  G.  Farragut  sailed  from 
Hampton  Roads,  in  the  steam-sloop  Hartford,  to  assume  the  duties  of 
flag-officer  of  the  Western  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron.  In  addition  to 
the  ordinary  blockade  duties,  he  was  especially  charged  with  the  reduc 
tion  of  the  defences  guarding  the  approaches  to  New  Orleans,  and  the 
taking  possession  of  that  city.  In  his  confidential  instructions,  he  was 
informed  that  a  fleet  of  bomb-vessels  and  armed  steamers  enough  to 
manage  them  all,  under  command  of  Commander  David  D.  Porter, 
would  be  directed  to  report  to  him.  A  large  force  of  vessels,  consisting 
of  many  of  the  best  frigates  and  sloops  in  the  service,  recently  fitting  out 


138  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

at  the  various  Navy- Yards,  had  received  orders  to  report  to  him  at  Key 
West.  Eighteen  thousand  troops,  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  were  to  co-operate  with  the  West  Gulf  Blockading 
Squadron.  Flag-Officer  Farragut  arrived  at  Ship  Island  on  the  2oth  of 
February,  having  been  detained  some  time  at  Key  West,  and  at  once 
commenced  active  preparations  for  the  attack  on  the  defences  of  New 
Orleans.  Much  difficulty  was  experienced  in  getting  the  larger  vessels 
over  the  bar,  and  in  the  case  of  the  frigate  Colorado  it  was  found  im 
possible.  On  the  1 6th  of  March  the  mortar  vessels  commenced  the 
bombardment  of  Fort  Jackson,  assisted  occasionally  by  the  gunboats.  On 
the  ist  of  April,  Flag-Officer  Farragut  detailed  a  force  to  cut  and  destroy 
the  chain  and  raft  across  the  river,  and  this  hazardous  undertaking  was 
successfully  carried  through  by  Captain  Bell,  assisted  by  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Crosby,  in  the  Pinola,  and  Lieutenant-Commanding  Cald- 
well,  in  the  Itasca.  On  the  23d  of  April,  1862,  Flag-Officer  Farragut 
made  his  final  preparations  for  the  attack  on  and  passage  of  Forts  Jack 
son  and  St.  Philip.  Every  vessel  was  as  well  prepared  as  the  ingenuity 
of  her  commander  and  officers  could  suggest.  Chief-Engineer  Moore  of 
the  Richmond  originated  the  idea  of  stopping  the  sheet-cables  up  and 
down  on  the  sides  of  the  ships  in  the  line  of  the  engines,  which  was  im 
mediately  adopted  by  all  the  vessels.  Each  commander  made  his  own 
arrangements  for  protecting  the  boilers  or  machinery,  by  coal,  bags  of 
ashes  and  sand,  naval  clothes-bags,  and  in  fact  by  every  device  imagi 
nable.  The  bulwarks  were  lined  with  hammocks  by  some,  by  splinter- 
nettings  made  with  ropes  by  others.  Some  rubbed  theii;  vessels  over 
with  mud  to  make  them  less  visible.  Lieutenant  Cummings,  the  execu 
tive  officer  of  the  Richmond,  made  the  valuable  suggestion  that  white 
washing  the  decks  would  give  the  men  sufficient  light  in  a  night  attack, 
and  obviate  the  necessity  of  using  lanterns,  which  were  targets  for  the 
enemy  to  fire  at. 

At  2  o'clock  A.M.,  April  24,  signal  was  made  to  get  under  way,  but 
owing  to  the  great  difficulty  in  purchasing  their  anchors,  the  Pensacola 
and  some  of  the  other  vessels  were  not  under  way  until  half-past  three. 
The  vessels  then  advanced  in  two  columns,  Captain  Bailey  leading  the 
right  and  the  advance  in  the  gunboat  Cayuga,  he  having  been  assigned 
to  the  first  division  of  gunboats,  which  consisted  of  the  Cayuga,  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Harrison ;  the  Oneida,  Commander  Lee ;  Varuna, 
Commander  Boggs  ;  Katahdin,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Preble ;  Kineo, 
Lieutenant-Commanding  Ransom,  and  Wissahickon,  Lieutenant-Com 
manding  Albert  Smith,  supported  by  the  steam-sloops  Pensacola,  Captain 
Morris,  and  Mississippi,  Commander  M.  Smith.  This  division  was  to 
attack  Fort  St.  Philip.  The  second  division  of  the  column  was  led  by 
the  flag-ship  Hartford,  followed  by  the  Brooklyn,  Captain  Craven,  the 
Richmond,  Commander  Alden,  and  the  second  division  of  gunboats,  led 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 39 

by  Fleet-Captain  Bell,  in  the  Sciota,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Donald 
son,  followed  by  the  Iroquois,  Commander  De  Camp ;  Kennebec,  Lieu 
tenant-Commanding  Russell ;  Pinola,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Crosby ; 
Itasca,  Lieutenant-Commanding  Caldwell,  and  Winona,  Lieutenant- 
Commanding  Nichols,  in  the  order  named. 

The  enemy's  lights,  while  they  discovered  the  vessels  to  them,  were  at 
the  same  time  guides  to  the  squadron,  which  soon  passed  the  barrier 
chains,  the  right  taking  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  the  left  Fort  Jackson.  As 
the  fire  became  general,  the  smoke  grew  so  dense  that  it  was  very  difficult 
to  distinguish  friends  from  foes.  Commander  Porter  had,  by  previous 
arrangement,  moved  up  to  a  certain  point  on  the  Fort  Jackson  side  with 
his  gunboats,  while  his  mortar  vessels,  assisted  by  the  sloop-of-war  Ports 
mouth,  engaged  the  water  batteries  to  the  south  and  eastward  of  Fort 
Jackson,  and  poured  a  terrific  fire  of  shells  into  it.  A  fire-raft  was  dis 
covered  coming  down  upon  the  Hartford,  and  in  attempting  to  avoid  it 
the  ship  was  run  on  shore,  where  the  rebel  ram  Manassas,  which  had  not 
previously  been  seen,  pushed  the  raft  down  upon  the  flag-ship,  which  was 
soon  on  fire  half-way  up  to  her  tops ;  she  was  backed  off,  and  through 
the  good  organization  of  the  fire  department,  and  the  great  exertions  of 
Captain  Wainwright  and  his  first  lieutenant,  officers,  and  crew,  the  fire 
was  extinguished. 

In  the  mean  time  the  battery  of  the  Hartford  was  pouring  its  missiles 
of  death  into  Fort  St.  Philip,  which  was  soon  silenced,  with  the  exception 
of  a  gun  now  and  then.  By  this  time  the  enemy's  gunboats,  thirteen  in 
number,  besides  two  iron-clads,  the  Manassas  and  Louisiana,  had  become 
visible ;  they  were  taken  in  hand,  and  in  a  short  time  eleven  of  them 
were  destroyed.  The  fleet  was  now  fairly  past  the  forts,  and  the  victory 
was  won.  Several  gunboats  were  still  making  resistance.  Two  of  them 
had  attacked  the  Varuna,  which  vessel,  by  her  greater  speed,  was  in  ad 
vance  of  her  consorts ;  they  ran  into  her  and  caused  her  to  sink,  but  not 
before  she  had  destroyed  her  adversaries;  and  when  the  Hartford  passed, 
the  wrecks  of  the  three  vessels  were  lying  side  by  side.  Just  as  the  scene 
appeared  to  be  closing,  the  ram  Manassas  was  observed  coming  up  at  full 
speed,  to  attack  the  Hartford.  Flag-Officer  Farragut  directed  Captain 
Smith,  in  the  Mississippi,  to  turn  and  run  her  down.  The  order  was 
instantly  obeyed  by  that  vessel  turning  and  going  at  her  at  full  speed. 
But  when  within  fifty  yards  of  each  other,  the  ram  put  her  helm  hard 
aport  and  ran  ashore ;  the  Mississippi  poured  two  broadsides  into  her, 
and  sent  her  drifting  down  the  river  a  total  wreck.  This  closed  the 
morning's  fight. 

Captain  Bailey  had  preceded  the  flag-ship  up  to  the  quarantine  station, 
and  had  captured  the  Chalmette  regiment.  By  order  of  Flag-Officer 
Farragut,  the  officers  and  men  were  paroled  the  same  day.  Owing  to  the 
slowness  of  some  of  the  vessels,  and  want  of  knowledge  of  the  river,  the 


140  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

fleet  did  not  reach  the  English  turn  until  about  10  A.M.  on  the  25th. 
The  fleet  was  now  formed  in  two  columns  as  before.  Captain  Bailey 
was  still  far  in  advance,  not  having  noticed  the  signal  for  close  order, 
which  was  to  enable  the  slow  vessels  to  come  up  ;  they  opened  on  him  a 
galling  fire  from  the  Chalmette  batteries,  but  the  larger  vessels  soon  came 
to  his  assistance,  and  ranged  in  one  after  another,  delivering  their  broad 
sides  with  such  telling  effect  that  the  batteries  were  silenced  and  the 
rebel  troops  driven  out. 

The  fleet  then  passed  up  to  the  city  and  anchored  immediately  in  front 
of  it.  Captain  Bailey  was  sent  on  shore  to  demand  the  surrender  of  New 
Orleans  from  the  authorities.  The  mayor  replied  that  the  city  was  under 
martial  law.  General  Lovell,  who  was  present,  said  he  would  surrender 
nothing,  but,  in  order  to  free  the  city  from  embarrassment,  he  would 
restore  the  authorities  and  retire  with  his  troops,  which  he  did.  All  the 
steamboats  lying  at  the  levee  were  seized  and  sent  down  to  quarantine 
for  General  Butler's  forces.  The  levee  of  New  Orleans  was  one  scene  of 
desolation.  Ships,  steamers,  cotton,  coal,  etc.,  were  all  in  one  common 
blaze,  and  the  ingenuity  of  the  squadron  was  much  taxed  to  avoid  the 
conflagration. 

Flag-Officer  Farragut  then  pushed  on  to  Carrollton,  eight  miles  above, 
where  there  were  two  other  forts,  which  were  found  deserted. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  after  a  bombard 
ment  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  consecutive  hours  by  the  mortar 
flotilla,  surrendered -to  Commander  David  .D.  Porter. 

Of  the  resistance  offered  by  the  Confederate  forts  below  New  Orleans, 
Admiral  Farragut  said,  "  Such  a  fire,  I  imagine,  the  world  has  rarely 
seen."  In  the  terrible  experience  of  silencing  that  fire,  reducing  the 
forts,  and  capturing  the  city,  the  Marines  bore  themselves  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  elicit  the  hearty  commendation  of  the  officers  of  the  fleet, 
and  to  aid  materially  in  the  success  of  the  engagement.  The  Varuna 
sustained  the  fire  of  the  forts,  and  at  the  same  time  was  attacked  by  two 
powerful  ironclads.  After  a  gallant  resistance,  in  which  the  two  vessels 
of  the  enemy  were  destroyed,  the  Varuna  herself  sunk,  with  colors  flying 
and  her  guns  dealing  destruction  to  the  enemy. 

Commander  Boggs  said,  "The  Marines,  although  new  recruits,  more 
than  maintained  the  reputation  of  that  Corps.  Their  galling  fire  cleared 
the  Morgan  rifled  gun,  and  prevented  a  repetition  of  her  murderous 
fire."  Commander  John  De  Camp,  commanding  the  Iroquois,  wrote: 
"  The  Marines  behaved  with  spirit  and  gallantry,  which  we  may  always 
expect  in  well-drilled  Americans."  Captain  T.  T.  Craven,  of  the 
Brooklyn,  said,  "Lieutenant  James  Forney,  commanding  the  Marines, 
had  two  guns  assigned  him,  and,  with  his  men,  fought  most  gallantly." 

But,  brave  and  efficient  as  were  the  Marines  in  the  action,  a  more  im 
portant  work  awaited  them.  On  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  April, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  141 

immediately  after  the  action  with  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  the 
destruction  of  the  rebel  fleet,  the  Marines,  under  command  of  Captain 
John  L.  Broome,  by  order  of  Admiral  Farragut,  landed,  and  took  pos 
session  of  the  quarantine,  at  the  same  time  taking  prisoners  the  rebel 
troops,  with  their  officers  quartered  in  the  quarantine  buildings,  and 
hoisting  the  flag  of  the  United  States  on  the  same. 

On  the  morning  following  the  arrival  of  the  squadron  opposite  New 
Orleans,  a  detachment  of  Marines  from  the  Pensacola  received  orders  to 
embark  in  the  ship's  boats  and  land. 

The  detachment  consisted  of  thirty  men,  under  the  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  J.  C.  Harris,  U.S.M.C.,  and  was  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Still- 
well,  U.S.N.,  and  a  sailor  carrying  the  flag. 

The  "levee"  at  New  Orleans  was  at  that  time  crowded  with  a  multi 
tude  of  highly-excited  men  and  women,  largely  composed  of  the  worst 
element  of  a  notoriously  turbulent  population,  who  greeted  the  Marines 
with  cries  of  execration  and  derision ;  knives  and  pistols  were  freely 
brandished  in  their  faces,  but,  undaunted  by  all  these  hostile  demonstra 
tions,  that  small  body  of  highly-disciplined  soldiers  calmly  but  promptly 
formed,  and  marched  with  measured  steps  and  unruffled  mien  to  their 
destination.  Arrived  at  the  United  States  Mint,  a  cordon  of  sentinels 
was  placed  around  the  building,  the  Confederate  flag  lowered  and 
replaced  by  that  of  the  United  States.  This  having  been  accomplished, 
the  detachment,  under  Lieutenant  Harris,  remained  in  possession  until 
the  arrival  of  the  battalion  under  Captain  Broome,  when  they  were 
consolidated  with  his  command. 

Admiral  Farragut  having  determined  to  take  military  possession  of  the 
city  until  the  arrival  of  the  troops  under  General  Butler's  command,  a 
battalion  of  Marines,  under  command  of  Captain  Broome,  disembarked 
from  the  fleet  on  the  apth  of  April,  and  marched  to  the  custom-house. 
The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  battalion:  Captain  J.  L.  Broome, 
commanding  ;  Adjutant,  Second  Lieutenant  J.  C.  Harris.  Company 
A,  fifty  men:  Captain  Alan  Ramsay.  Company  B.,  fifty  men:  Captain 
P.  H.  W.  Fontane.  Company  C,  fifty  men  :  First  Lieutenant  James 
Forney.  Company  D,  fifty  men  :  First  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Higbee. 

Captain  Alan  Ramsay  was  detailed  with  a  detachment  of  Marines  to 
occupy  the  custom-house  and  guard  the  United  States  flag,  then  about 
to  be  hoisted  on  the  building.  At  this  juncture  the  Marines  were  joined 
by  two  howitzers,  manned  by  seamen,  in  charge  of  Midshipmen  J.  H. 
Read  and  E.  C.  Hazeltine,  from  the  flag-ship  Hartford.  After  taking 
possession  of  the  custom-house,  Captain  Broome  received  orders  from 
Captain  H.  H.  Bell,  senior  officer  present,  to  march  the  Marines  to  the 
City  Hall,  a  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  the  vessels  of  the  fleet, 
and  near  the  centre  of  the  city.  The  forces  under  General  Lovell  had 
not  evacuated  the  city,  and  the  squares  and  streets  were  thronged  with 


142  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

an  excited  mob,  brandishing  bowie-knives  and  revolvers,  and  hailing  the 
Marines  with  the  most  abusive  language  ;  but  the  command  marched  in 
close  order  and  steady  steps  to  its  destination.  On  arriving  at  the  City 
Hall,  Lieutenant  John  C.  Harris  was  directed,  with  a  guard  of  Marines, 
to  occupy  the  building  and  enforce  order  there  while  the  enemy's  flag 
was  hauled  down  from  the  flag-staff  on  the  building.  After  performing 
this  duty,  the  Marines  were  marched  to  the  place  of  embarkation,  and 
returned  to  the  fleet,  except  the  number  quartered  in  the  custom-house, 
who  were  retained  there  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  the  United  States 
flag.  When  the  troops  of  General  Butler's  command  landed  at  New 
Orleans,  on  the  ist  of  May,  the  force  of  Marines  still  on  duty  in  the 
city  returned  to  the  fleet. 

Respectable  inhabitants  of  the  city  afterwards  stated  that  rarely  were 
men  in  more  imminent  danger  from  assassination  than  was  the  small 
detachment  of  Marines  on  that  occasion,  and  that  they  wondered  at  the 
boldness  of  the  act,  under  the  circumstances,  and  trembled  for  the  safety 
of  the  city,  fearing,  and  with  reason,  that  any  overt  act  on  the  part  of 
the  excited  mob  would  result  in  an  immediate  bombardment,  wholly 
under  the  command  of  the  ship's  broadsides ;  the  calm  and  steady 
attitude  of  the  Marines  tended  to  a  great  extent  to  the  prevention  of 
such  a  calamity. 

And  so,  three  days  before  the  arrival  of  General  Butler,  the  Marines 
took  possession  of  and  held  the  public  buildings  of  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  literally  perfecting  the  conquest  of  the  city  by  hauling  down 
the  Confederate  flag  and  hoisting  the  stars  and  stripes.  For  three  days 
the  force  under  Captain  Broome  held  in  subjection  the  turbulent  and 
rebellious  elements  of  the  population  of  the  city,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  gave  place  to  the  troops  under  command  of  General  Butler.  To 
rescue  this  important  chapter  in  the  records  of  the  Marines  from  the 
oblivion  of  meagre  official  documents  in  the  national  archives,  and  to 
give  it  a  legitimate,  and  what  is  trusted  will  be  a  lasting  prominence,  is 
but  an  act  of  justice  to  the  Corps. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  Marines  killed  and  wounded 
during  the  capture  of  the  forts  and  the  city :  Killed  :  Brooklyn,  Privates 
W.  Lenahan  and  Henry  H.  Roff ;  Iroquois,  Private  Jacob  Schoenfeldt ; 
Mississippi,  Corporals  George  Sanderson,  and  W.  H.  Woods.  Wounded  : 
Oneida,  Private  Henry  Cooper;  Hartford,  Second  Lieutenant  Heisler, 
Privates  Henry  King  and  George  White ;  Brooklyn,  Privates  Lorin 
Heath,  J.  R.  Sanders,  and  Leonard  Killion ;  Pensacola,  Lieutenant 
John  C.  Harris,  Sergeant  Stermbergh,  Privates  George  Perkins,  Michael 
O' Bryan,  Frederick  Davye,  Francis  Pepper,  and  John  Brogan ;  Iroquois, 
Corporal  Walter  J.  White,  mortally,  Alfred  Jackson  ;  Varuna,  Privates 
T.  Gordon,  D.  McLaughlin,  J.  Logan,  and  J.  McQuinn ;  Mississippi, 
Private  Richard  C.  Carman. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  143 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Corps  attached  to  the 
Western  Gulf  Squadron  during  the  year  1862  to  January  i,  1863:  flag 
ship  Hartford,  Captain  John  L.  Broome,  Second  Lieutenant  Heisler, 
who  was  relieved  after  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  by  First  Lieutenant 
John  H.  Higbee;  steam-sloop  Pensacola,  Second  Lieutenant  John  C. 
Harris;  steam-sloop  Brooklyn,  First  Lieutenant  James  Forney;  steam- 
sloop  Susquehanna,  off  Mobile,  Captain  Philip  R.  Fendall,  Jr.  ;  steam- 
sloop  Mississippi,  Captain  P.  H.  W.  Fontane;  steam-frigate  Colorado 
(this  vessel,  on  account  of  her  heavy  draught,  was  unable  to  get  over  the 
bar),  Captain  George  R.  Graham,  First  Lieutenant  Samuel  C.  Adams; 
sloop  Portsmouth,  above  the  passes,  First  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Hale; 
frigate  Potomac,  off  Pensacola,  First  Lieutenant  George  W.  Collier; 
steam-sloop  Richmond,  Captain  Alan  Ramsay ;  sloop  Vincennes,  Ship 
Island,  Second  Lieutenant  N.  L.  Nokes. 

On  the  28th  of  June  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Farragut  passed  the 
batteries  at  Vicksburg,  receiving  and  answering  a  terrible  fire  from 
the  well-mounted  guns  of  the  enemy.  Captain  Broome,  command 
ing  the  Marines  of  the  squadron,  was  wounded,  as  were  also  Privates 
Thomas  Nolan  and  George  W.  Harris  of  the  Marine  guard  of  the  Rich 
mond.  Commander  R.  Wainwright,  commanding  flag-ship  Hartford, 
says  of  the  conduct  of  the  Marines  during  the  fight :  '*  The  Marine  guard, 
under  command  of  Captain  John  L.  Broome,  had  charge  of  two  broad 
side  guns,  and  fought  them  well,  thus  sustaining  the  reputation  of  that 
distinguished  Corps."  Officers  of  the  Corps  who  participated  in  this 
engagement  were  assigned  as  follows  :  Hartford,  Captain  John  L.  Broome, 
First  Lieutenant  John  H.  Higbee ;  Brooklyn,  First  Lieutenant  James 
Forney ;  Richmond,  Captain  Alan  Ramsay. 

On  the  1 5th  of  July,  in  the  engagement  between  the  Confederate  ram 
Arkansas  and  Farragut's  vessels,  above  Vicksburg,  Captain  Broome  was 
again  wounded,  as  was  also  Private  George  Rogers  of  the  Marines. 

During  the  early  part  of  December  an  event  occurred  which  was  most 
deeply  regretted  by  the  Marines  and  by  the  friends  of  the  Corps.  Seldom 
has  the  Corps  known  the  unpleasantness  of  defeat ;  but  in  this  instance 
the  circumstances  of  the  case  forced  upon  a  battalion  of  Marines  the 
unavoidable  necessity  of  submitting  to  a  superior  force  without  the 
opportunity  to  fire  a  shot.  Mortifying  as  was  this  fact,  however,  the 
firmness  and  patriotism  of  the  defeated  men  in  refusing  to  yield  to  the 
flattering  offers  laid  before  them  to  tempt  them  to  desert  their  flag 
reflected  lasting  credit  upon  them.  On  Saturday,  the  ist  of  December, 
two  companies  of  Marines,  of  seventy  men  each,  sailed  from  New  York 
in  the  Pacific  mail  steamship  Ariel  for  Aspinwall.  A  portion  of  this 
command  was  destined  for  the  garrison  at  Mare  Island,  California,  and 
the  remainder  for  the  ships  composing  the  Pacific  Squadron.  On  the 
morning  of  the  yth,  when  off  the  eastern  end  of  Cuba,  a  steamer  hove 


144  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

in  sight  flying  the  United  States  flag.  The  Ariel  continued  on  her  course, 
followed  by  the  stranger,  who  rapidly  overhauled  her.  When  within  a 
mile,  the  pursuing  vessel  fired  a  blank  cartridge,  at  the  same  time  hauling 
down  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  hoisting  in  their  stead  the  flag  of  the 
Confederacy.  Captain  Jones,  commanding  the  Ariel,  paid  no  attention 
to  this  unmistakable  summons,  but  continued  on  his  course,  saying,  "I 
will  not  heave  to."  A  solid  shot  was  then  fired,  which  passed  through 
the  rigging  of  the  Ariel,  followed  by  a  shell,  which  caused  much  damage, 
cutting  away  the  foremast.  At  this,  Captain  Jones  hove  to.  In  a  few 
moments  a  boat  filled  with  armed  men  came  alongside,  in  charge  of 
Lieutenant  Armstrong,  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  who  announced  to  the 
captain  of  the  Ariel  that  the  latter  had  surrendered  to  the  famous 
Alabama.  The  Marines  were  ordered  to  surrender  their  arms,  and  the 
officers  their  swords.  Any  resistance  on  their  part  would  have  endangered 
the  lives  of  the  women  and  children.  The  order  having  been  complied 
with,  Lieutenant  Armstrong  addressed  the  command,  calling  for  twenty 
volunteers  to  fill  up  the  Marine  guard  of  the  Alabama,  offering  the  best 
pay  and  plenty  of  prize  money  if  they  would  join  the  Pride  of  the 
Ocean,  also  saying  he  knew  they  thought  more  of  Jeff.  Davis  than  of 
Lincoln.  Finding  that  not  a  man  would  prove  recreant  to  his  trust,  or 
a  traitor  to  his  country,  the  lieutenant  withdrew.  The  Ariel  being  in 
possession  of  a  prize  crew  of  sailors,  Major  Garland,  at  the  request  of 
Captain  Semmes,  detailed  sentinels,  though  prisoners  of  war,  to  guard 
the  spirit  rooms  to  prevent  the  rebel  crew  from  making  use  of  the  liquor 
they  contained.  The  officers  and  men  of  the  Ariel  were  paroled,  and, 
after  considerable  discussion  and  delay,  the  vessel  was  ransomed  for  the 
handsome  sum  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  dollars,  and  per 
mitted  to  proceed  on  her  journey.  The  battalion  arrived  in  due  course 
of  time  at  Mare  Island,  where  they  were  shortly  afterwards  exchanged. 

During  this  year  a  detachment  of  Marines,  under  the  command  of 
First  Lieutenant  McLane  Tilton,  garrisoned  Pilot  Town,  Louisiana. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

1863.— The  Civil  War,  VI.— Raid  of  Rebel  Ironclads  among  the  Vessels  off  Charles 
ton,  South  Carolina — Attack  on  Port  Hudson — The  Draft  Riots  in  New  York  City — 
Morris  Island — Attack  on  Fort  Sumter — Potomac  Flotilla — East  Gulf  Squadron. 

ABOUT  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  January  31,  1863,  during  the 
obscurity  of  a  thick  haze,  two  iron-clad  gunboats  ran  out  of  Charleston 
by  the  main  ship-channel,  unperceived  by  the  squadron,  and  began  a 
raid  upon  the  blockading  fleet.  Most  of  the  latter  were  of  the  light  class 
of  purchased  vessels,  two  of  the  heaviest  men-of-war,  the  Powhatan  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  145 

Canandaigua,  being  then  at  port  coaling  and  repairing.  The  Mercedita, 
Captain  Stellwagen,  was  the  first  vessel  attacked,  and  was  rendered  power 
less  without  having  an  opportunity  to  fire  a  shot.  Unable  to  use  his 
guns,  and  being  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  who  was  lying  alongside,  all 
resistance  was  deemed  hopeless  by  Captain  Stellwagen,  and  he  surren 
dered.  The  crew  and  officers  were  paroled.  The  ironclad,  leaving  the 
Mercedita  to  her  fate,  to  sink  or  float,  next  engaged  the  Keystone  State, 
Commander  Le  Roy,  who  was  also  attacked  by  the  enemy.  The  fire  was 
gallantly  returned,  but  the  superior  power  of  the  enemy  soon  disabled 
the  Keystone  State.  In  the  mean  time  the  Augusta,  Commander  Par- 
rott,  the  Quaker  City,  Commander  Frailey,  and  the  Memphis,  Acting 
Lieutenant  Watmough,  kept  up  a  fire  upon  the  enemy,  diverting  his 
attention  from  the  Keystone  State,  which  was  soon  after  taken  in  tow  by 
the  Memphis  and  drawn  away  from  the  fire.  The  Augusta  and  Quaker 
City  were  both  struck  in  their  hulls,  the  Memphis  only  in  her  rigging. 
The  Housatonic,  Captain  Taylor,  gave  chase,  and  a  shot  from  her  struck 
the  pilot-house  of  one  of  the  ironclads,  carrying  away  one  of  her  flags. 
The  enemy's  vessels  passed  to  the  northward,  receiving  the  fire  of  the 
ships,  and  took  refuge  behind  the  shoals.  The  only  casualties  were  on 
the  Mercedita  and  the  Keystone  State.  On  the  Keystone  State  they 
were  very  large  ;  about  one-fourth  of  her  crew  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  among  the  former  was  the  medical  officer  of  the  ship,  Assistant- 
Surgeon  Jacob  H.  Gotwald,  who  was  scalded  to  death  while  rendering 
surgical  aid  to  one  of  the  wounded  men.  The  following  is  a  list  of 
casualties  in  the  Marine  guard  of  the  Keystone  State  :  Killed,  Orderly 
Sergeant  Edward  Livermore,  Corporal  William  A.  Graw,  Privates  Thomas 
Riley,  John  W.  Armstrong,  William  Deitz,  John  P.  Conway,  William 
Peyton,  and  Patrick  Herrick.  Wounded,  Private  Michael  Scott. 

In  the  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  by  Admiral  Farragut,  on  the  i3th  of 
March,  the  following  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps  were  engaged  :  Flag 
ship  Hartford,  Captain  John  L.  Broome  and  First  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Hig- 
bee ;  Richmond,  Captain  Alan  Ramsay ;  Mississippi,  Captain  P.  H.  W. 
Fontane.  The  following  is  a  list  of  casualties  in  the  Marine  guards  :  Hart 
ford,  killed,  Private  Thomas  F.  Butler.  Mississippi,  missing,  Privates 
Patrick  Bannon,  Peter  Doyle,  Patrick  Flatherty,  James  McMullin,  John 
Redding,  William  Talant,  and  John  Kelly ;  killed,  Private  David  Kelly. 
Richmond,  killed,  Privates  Charles  Catherwood  and  John  Thompson  ; 
wounded,  Privates  Thomas  Nolan,  Joseph  P.  Mullin,  George  W.  Harris, 
Michael  O'Niel,  Robert  Staples,  and  Edward  Conover;  Corporals  John 
S.  Gross  and  Robert  H.  Neely.  Monongahela,  Corporal  Francis  Marr, 
wounded.  In  his  report  of  the  participation  of  the  steamer  Richmond 
in  the  engagement,  Commodore  James  Alden  says,  "Captain  Ramsay, 
who  deserves  special  mention,  in  charge  of  the  Marine  division  of  great 
guns,  had  nearly  a  whole  gun' 's  crew  swept  away  by  a  single  cannon  shot" 


146  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

While  passing  the  batteries  on  Red  River,  on  the  I9th,  Privates  John 
Brown,  Michael  Corcoran,  and  Patrick  Cook  were  wounded. 

The  enemy's  steamer  Virginia,  having  been  chased  by  the  Wauchusett, 
was  captured  when  near  a  shoal  close  to  the  island  of  Majores.  Lieu 
tenant  George  P.  Houston,  of  the  Marines,  volunteered  to  bring  the 
vessel  out  from  its  proximity  to  the  dangerous  shoals.  Accordingly,  with 
a  detachment  of  his  guard,  he  took  possession  of  the  vessel  and  ran  her 
out  into  the  open  sea,  fifteen  miles  off  the  coast.  A  Marine  was  placed 
at  the  wheel,  another  as  oiler  in  the  engine-room,  others  in  the  fire-room, 
while  the  gallant  lieutenant  ran  the  engines  himself.  So  efficiently  and 
promptly  was  this  duty  performed,  that  Rear- Admiral  Wilkes  expressed 
his  approbation  in  a  letter  to  the  Department. 

On  the  i3th  of  July  a  brigade  of  seamen  and  Marines,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Commander  R.  W.  Meade,  United  States  Navy, 
left  the  Navy-Yard  in  Brooklyn,  in  response  to  a  request  from  the  author 
ities  of  the  city  of  New  York.  A  strong  resistance  having  been  made 
to  the  draft  by  evil-disposed  and  lawless  persons,  and  many  lives  having 
been  lost  in  consequence,  it  became  necessary  to  quell  the  disturbance 
by  force  of  arms.  The  brigade  marched  to  the  City  Hall,  and  from  that 
point  the  battalion  of  Marines,  under  Captain  J.  C.  Grayson,  was  sent  in 
different  directions,  clearing  the  streets  in  some  localities  and  assisting 
the  police  in  making  arrests.  In  addition  to  this,  the  district  in  which 
the  rioting  had  taken  place  was  thoroughly  patrolled,  and  sentinels  posted 
over  public  buildings  and  property  in  danger  of  destruction  by  the  dis 
affected.  This  duty  was  performed  from  the  i3th  to  the  2oth  of  July, 
inclusive,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  city  authorities,  and  won  their  marked 
approbation.  Captain  Grayson's  battalion  consisted  of  two  companies, 
the  first  consisting  of  ninety  men,  under  First  Lieutenant  C.  A.  Stillman, 
and  the  second  of  ninety  men,  under  Second  Lieutenant  R.  L.  Meade. 

In  the  following  August  a  battalion,  under  the  command  of  Major 
Jacob  Zeilin,  sailed  from  New  York,  to  co-operate  with  the  South  Atlantic 
Squadron,  under  the  command  of  Rear- Admiral  J.  A.  Dahlgren.  The  bat 
talion  was  debarked  on  Morris  Island,  where  the  camp  was  established.  It 
participated  in  all  of  the  subsequent  engagements  which  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  the  outer  defences  of  Charleston.  The  roster  of  the  officers 
of  the  battalion  was  as  follows  :  Major  Jacob  Zeilin,  commanding  ;  Lieu 
tenant  J.  C.  Harris,  adjutant ;  Lieutenant  C.  H.  Bradford,  quarter 
master;  Company  A:  Captain  C.  G.  McCawley,  Lieutenants  R.  L. 
Meade  and  F.  T.  Peet ;  Company  B :  Captain  C.  D.  Hebb,  Lieutenants 
George  C.  Stoddard  and  L.  E.  Fagan  ;  Company  C :  Captain  L.  L. 
Dawson,  Lieutenants  William  Wallace  and  E.  P.  Meeker.  Major  Zeilin 
having  been  allowed  to  return  home  on  sick  leave  shortly  after  the 
arrival  of  the  battalion,  he  was  succeeded  by  Captain  E.  McD.  Reynolds, 
from  the  Wabash.  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  George  Reynolds  subse- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  147 

quently  was  ordered  to  command  the  battalion.  Captain  Dawson  and 
Lieutenant  Harris  returned  home  on  sick  leave  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
Colonel  Reynolds,  and  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Lovvry  was  appointed  adjutant, 
and  Lieutenant  William  Wallace  succeeded  to  the  command  of  Company 
C.  The  first  important  work  in  which  the  battalion  engaged  was  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  under  Rear-Admiral  Dahlgren,  on  the  8th  of 
September.  On  the  night  of  the  6th  the  enemy  evacuated  Morris 
Island.  This  offered  an  opportunity  for  assaulting  Fort  Sumter,  which, 
if  successful,  would  enable  Admiral  Dahlgren  to  pass  the  obstructions 
in  the  channel.  He  therefore  directed  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
different  vessels  off  Charleston  to  send  detachments  of  sailors  and  Ma 
rines,  with  boats,  to  the  flag-ship,  prepared  for  the  proposed  movement. 
Captain  Reynolds  commanding  the  Marine  battalion  on  Morris  Island, 
was  ordered  to  send  one  hundred  men  and  six  officers  to  the  flag-ship  to 
participate  in  the  assault.  Having  called  for  volunteers,  the  following 
officers  responded  :  Captain  C.  G.  McCawley,  First  Lieutenants  H.  B. 
Lowry,  P.  C.  Pope,  Charles  H.  Bradford,  and  John  C.  Harris;  Second 
Lieutenants  R.  L.  Meade,  William  Wallace,  and  L.  E.  Fagan.  The 
naval  battery  was  also  ordered  to  send  its  quota,  consisting  of  four  officers 
and  fifty-three  men.  At  dark  all  the  detachments  had  arrived,  and  at 
eleven  o'clock  the  expedition,  consisting  of  over  twenty  boats,  and  with 
thirty-four  officers  and  four  hundred  and  thirteen  men,  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Commander  T.  H.  Stevens,  of  the  Patapsco,  with  Lieu 
tenant  Commander  Bunce  and  Lieutenant  Moreau  Forrest  as  aids. 
Lieutenant  Commander  Williams,  of  the  Wissahickon,  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  first  division;  Lieutenant  Remey,  of  the  naval  battery,  of 
the  second  ;  Flag  Lieutenant  Preston,  of  the  third  ;  Lieutenant  Higgin- 
son,  of  the  Powhatan,  of  the  fourth;  and  Captain  McCawley,  command 
ing  the  Marines,  of  the  fifth  division.  Ensign  Craven,  of  the  Hotisatonic, 
was  also  attached  to  this  division.  Commander  Stevens  and  his  aids  led 
the  flotilla  in  the  admiral's  barge. 

The  plan  of  attack  was  to  assail  the  fort  on  three  sides, — one  party 
landing  on  the  gorge  wall  and  attempting  to  ascend  the  debris  and  gain 
the  parapet ;  a  second  was  to  attempt  to  gain  entrance  through  the  lower 
embrasures,  and  a  third  was  to  act  as  a  reserve. 

The  Daffodil  took  the  boats  in  tow  and  steamed  up  to  a  short  distance 
from  Sumter,  where  they  cast  off  and  formed  in  line  of  attack. 

The  boats  pulled  cautiously  along  and  made  slow  progress  necessarily, 
as  the  proper  line  of  attack  had  to  be  observed. 

At  half-past  one  the  first  line  of  boats  approached  closely  the  fort, 
and  were  discovered  by  the  sentry  on  the  walls  of  the  work  and  sharply 
challenged.  No  reply  was  made  to  the  question  of  "What  boat  is 
that?"  A  second  challenge  of  the  same  nature  failing  to  elicit  a  reply, 
the  sentry  discharged  his  musket,  and  called  to  the  officer  below  to 


148  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"Turn  out  the  guard."  The  boats  on  being  hailed  pulled  quickly  to 
the  fort ;  but  before  they  could  reach  it  several  shots  had  been  fired  at 
them.  The  boats  had  dashed  rapidly  up,  the  formation  of  the  line  of 
advance  being  broken,  and  each  boat  striving  to  effect  the  first  landing. 
Seven  boats  succeeded  in  getting  alongside  the  debris  on  the  gorge  wall ; 
the  others  while  pushing  up  were  met  with  a  sharp  fire  of  musketry. 

Signal  lights  were  burned  from  Sumter,  and  in  a  moment  all  the  rebel 
batteries  bearing  on  the  fort  opened  a  fire  of  shell  and  shrapnel  on  the 
fort  itself,  and,  of  course,  on  any  party  that  might  be  about  its  base. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  sailors  and  Marines  got  ashore,  and  instead 
of  finding  a  slope  of  debris  up  to  the  parapet  of  the  gorge  wall  they 
found  a  perpendicular  range  of  masonry,  which  the  rebels  had  con 
structed,  meeting  them  full  in  the  face.  All  their  efforts  to  find  a  place 
of  ascent  were  fruitless.  Not  a  soul  could  ascend  the  wall,  and  the 
party  found  themselves  in  a  critical  position.  The  rebels  had  manned 
the  parapet  with  infantry,  and  were  also  firing  through  loop-holes,  formed 
by  sand-bags,  in  the  upper  slope  of  the  debris.  In  addition  to  this, 
hand  grenades  were  hurled  upon  the  assaulting  party's  heads,  and  bricks 
were  detached  and  tumbled  down  upon  them.  Three  of  the  boats  were 
torn  to  pieces  by  hand  grenades  or  shells  from  the  distant  rebel  batteries 
and  retreat  was  being  rapidly  cut  off.  At  this  juncture  a  rebel  ram  came 
down  and  opened  fire  with  grape  and  canister  upon  the  boats,  the  rebels 
on  the  fort  throwing  flashes  of  light  upon  the  dark  waters  about  them 
from  a  large  locomotive  lamp.  As  each  boat  was  brought  to  light,  vol 
leys  of  musketry,  canister,  and  grape,  now  poured  in  from  the  fort  and 
gunboat,  and  many  were  killed  and  wounded.  The  only  mark  for  our 
men  to  fire  at  was  this  light,  and  a  volley  or  two  was  thrown  at  it,  but 
to  little  effect.  Finally,  a  continuance  of  their  effort  to  carry  out  the 
plan  being  evidently  of  no  avail,  and  fearing  a  heavy  loss  of  men  with 
out  any  gain,  the  order  to  retire  was  given.  Four  boats  came  off  from 
the  landing  at  the  gorge,  and  three,  being  destroyed,  were  left  there. 
Only  a  small  portion  of  the  storming  party  succeeded  in  regaining  their 
boats.  Many  were  killed  and  the  balance  taken  prisoners. 

About  ten  officers  and  one  hundred  and  four  men  were  missing, — eighty 
known  to  be  killed. 

The  officers  taken  prisoners  were  Lieutenant-Commander  Williams, 
Lieutenant  Remey,  Flag-Lieutenant  Preston,  Lieutenant  Brower,  Ensign 
Porter,  Acting  Master's  Mates  Henry  and  McCarthy,  Lieutenants  Brad 
ford  and  Meade  of  the  Marines.  Lieutenant  Bradford  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  died  in  the  hands  of  his  captors.  He  received  every 
attention  and  kindness  from  Dr.  Mackey,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Charles 
ton,  and  an  old  friend  of  the  gallant  officer's  father.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  the  doctor's  family  lot;  but  the  feeling  among  the  populace 
was  intense  against  this  act  of  humanity  and  kindness,  and,  by  order  of 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  149 

the  authorities,  the  body  was  removed  to  Potter's  field.  One  of  the  first 
acts  of  Admiral  Dahlgren,  after  the  fall  of  Charleston,  was  to  remove  and 
bury,  with  all  the  honors  of  war,  the  remains  more  befitting  the  career 
of  the  brave  and  lamented  officer.  Lieutenant  Meade  suffered  all  the  pri 
vations  of  prison-life,  and  remained  in  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  until 
regularly  exchanged  ;  not,  however,  until  more  than  a  year  had  elapsed. 
Lieutenant  Higginson,  who  was  to  have  gained  access  to  the  fort 
through  the  embrasures  of  the  lower  casemates,  in  the  northeast  face, 
found  a  landing  impracticable,  and  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  attempt, 
as  his  boats  were  thumping  heavily  on  sharp  rocks  at  the  base  of  the 
fort.  Lieutenant  Lowry,  of  the  Marines,  who  had  charge  of  two  boats, 
discovered  the  rebel  steamer  bearing  down  upon  his  boats  before  he  had 
reached  the  fort,  and  as  she  opened  fire,  and  seemed  determined  to  run 
the  boats  down,  he  ordered  his  division  to  pull  for  shoal  water.  The 
steamer  soon  turned  and  steamed  towards  Fort  Moultrie,  and  Lieutenant 
Lowry  ordered  his  boats  to  pull  up  again  to  the  fort.  Other  boats  were 
driven  off  by  this  steamer  and  prevented  from  co-operating  as  effectually 
as  they  might  have  done.  It  may,  perhaps,  be  regarded  as  a  fortunate 
circumstance  that  all  the  boats  did  not  effect  a  landing,  as  it  would  only 
have  resulted  in  an  increase  of  the  rebel  gain  in  prisoners. 

The  want  of  success  of  the  expedition  was  due  to  causes  over  which 
neither  the  admiral  nor  Commander  Stevens  had  any  control.  The  ap 
pearance  of  the  debris  on  the  gorge  face  was  deceptive.  Instead  of 
sloping  gradually  from  the  parapet  to  the  water's  edge,  it  was  found  to 
slope  only  from  the  parapet  to  the  top  of  the  sand-bag  barricade  or  traverse, 
which  the  rebels  piled  up  to  protect  the  wall  against  our  breaching  bat 
teries.  This  wall  of  sand-bags  was,  at  least,  twelve  feet  high,  and,  with 
out  the  aid  of  scaling  ladders,  no  one  could  possibly  reach  its  top,  from 
which,  perhaps,  it  might  have  been  possible  to  mount  the  parapet  or  the 
mass  of  the  debris.  This  fact  was  not  discovered  until  the  attempt  to 
scale  the  wall  had  been  made,  and  then  it  was  under  a  heavy  fire.  Re 
treat  was  cut  off  so  quickly  by  the  destruction  of  a  portion  of  the  boats 
and  the  appearance  of  the  rebel  steamer,  at  a  short  distance  only  from 
the  gorge,  that  the  only  sensible  alternative  between  death  and  surrender 
was  made  by  the  party  remaining  on  the  landing,  and  they  gave  them 
selves  up  as  prisoners,  and  were  speedily  inside  Fort  Sumter,  although 
not  as  captors. 

The  casualties  among  the  Marines  were  as  follows : 

Powhatan. — Wounded,  Corporal  Hennis,  Privates  Hariland  and  Ball ; 
taken  prisoner,  Corporal  Cully,  Privates  Scanlan,  Foy,  Kelly,  White, 
Allen,  McConigley,  and  Hall. 

Housatonic. — Taken  prisoner,  Private  Bannon. 

Marine  Battalion. — Taken  prisoner  and  mortally  wounded,  First  Lieu 
tenant  C.  H.  Bradford,  quartermaster. 


150  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Company  A :   Private  Rodgers,  wounded  and  sent  to  the  Memphis. 
Company  B :    Taken  prisoner,  First  Lieutenant  R.  L.   Meade,  First 
Sergeant  Chisholm,  Corporal  Piggott,   Privates  McKenna,  Mullin,  Van 
Zant,  Mclntyre,   Hurshfield,  Johnson,  Keiffer,   Himes,  Gordon,  Long, 
Stansbury,  Reynolds,  Murphy,  and  Mallady. 

Company  C :  Taken  prisoner,  Sergeant  Mulhall,  Corporal  Black, 
Privates  Haynes,  Hurley,  Preston,  Gettings,  McKinley,  McNeal,  Brad- 
shaw,  Walsh,  Kassman,  Siddell,  and  Martin. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  Lieutenant-Commander  R.  W.  Meade,  Jr., 
of  the  gunboat  Marblehead,  was  sent,  at  the  head  of  a  sufficient  force 
of  Marines  and  sailors,  to  complete  the  victory  of  the  25th  at  Stono, 
South  Carolina,  to  capture  or  destroy  the  property  in  the  earthworks  of 
the  enemy.  The  expedition  was  entirely  successful,  the  work  of  capture 
and  destruction  being  prompt  and  effectual.  In  his  report  of  the  affair 
the  commander  said,  "The  conduct  of  the  blue-jackets,  and  especially 
of  the  Marines,  was  excellent." 

The  vessels  of  the  Potomac  flotilla  found  constant  employment  in 
keeping  a  close  watch  and  guard  to  intercept  and  prevent,  as  far  as  pos 
sible,  communication  with  the  rebels,  and  many  captures  were  made. 
To  provide  against  possible  contingencies  at  the  time  of  the  invasion  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  which  terminated  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
vessels  were  stationed  at  what  were  deemed  available  points  along  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Chesapeake,  to  co-operate  with  the  military  authori 
ties.  A  gunboat  was  sent  up  the  Susquehanna  to  Havre  de  Grace, 
another  up  the  Gunpowder,  a  third  up  the  Buckwater,  while  one  was 
posted  at  Annapolis,  and  another  at  Wilmington.  Detachments  of 
Marines,  under  the  command  of  sergeants,  served  on  the  larger  vessels  of 
the  flotilla. 

In  the  East  Gulf  Squadron  many  important  boat  expeditions  for  cutting 
out  vessels  and  destroying  salt-works  were  projected  and  executed  with 
success.  More  than  one  hundred  blockade-runners  were  captured  or 
destroyed  by  the  squadron  during  the  year,  and  violating  the  blockade 
became  so  precarious  a  business  that  few  were  desperate  enough  to 
attempt  it.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  the  limits  of  this  squadron 
were  extended  so  as  to  embrace  within  its  cruising-grounds  the  waters  of 
the  Bahamas  in  the  vicinity  of  Cuba. 

In  all  of  these  expeditions  the  Marines  participated,  a  number  of  the 
non-commissioned  officers  receiving  honorable  mention.  Until  May  of 
this  year  the  Marines  of  the  flag-ship  St.  Lawrence  were  under  the  com 
mand  of  First  Lieutenant  R.  S.  Collum. 

The  Following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  vessels  in  the 
South  Atlantic  Squadron  during  the  year:  Flag-ship  Wabash,  Captain 
E.  McD.  Reynolds,  First  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Lowry,  subsequently  Second 
Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan ;  iron-clad  steamer  New  Ironsides,  First  Lieu- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  151 

tenant  Henry  A.  Bartlett  and  Second  Lieutenant  James  B.  Young  (this 
vessel,  in  which  these  officers  served,  participated  in  twenty-six  engage 
ments  with  the  forts  commanding  the  defences  of  Charleston)  ;  Vermont, 
at  Port  Royal,  Second  Lieutenant  Henry  J.  Bishop.  The  following 
officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron  during 
the  year :  Minnesota,  flag-ship,  Captain  John  Schermerhorn,  Second 
Lieutenant  Charles  F.  Williams ;  iron-clad  steamer  Roanoke,  First  Lieu 
tenant  Frank  Munroe. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

1864. — The  Civil  War,  VII. — Condition  of  the  Corps — Sounds  of  North  Carolina — 
The  Ram  Albemarle — Murrill's  Inlet — The  Defeat  of  the  Alabama — Engagement  at 
Simonosaki — Havre  de  Grace — Admiral  Farragut's  Attack  on  the  Defences  of 
Mobile  Bay — Safety  of  the  Wabash  due  to  the  Action  of  the  Marines. 

THE  following  is  an  extract  from  the  report  for  1864  of  the  Hon. 
Gideon  Welles,  Secretary  of  the  Navy:  "The  colonel  commandant  of 
the  Marine  Corps  reports  his  command  in  a  good  state  of  discipline. 
Although  its  number  is  now  fully  equal  to  the  quota  authorized  by  law, 
he  is  unable  to  comply  with  all  the  requisitions  for  guards  for  sea-going 
vessels.  The  reports  from  the  several  squadrons  and  vessels  of  the  service 
show  that,  in  the  gallant  deeds  of  the  Navy,  the  Marines  have  borne  an 
honorable  part." 

In  the  sounds  of  North  Carolina  important  events  were  in  preparation. 
The  value  of  the  possession  of  these  waters  was  evidenced  by  the  frequent 
and  persistent  efforts  made  by  the  enemy  to  repossess  himself  of  them 
and  of  the  important  points  upon  their  shores  held  by  the  army  and 
Navy.  In  the  spring  of  1864  the  possession  of  the  sounds  seemed  to  be 
very  insecure ;  the  land  force  was  small  and  scattered ;  most  of  the  gun 
boats  were  slightly  built,  the  ironclads  then  at  the  disposal  of  the  gov 
ernment  being  unsuited  for  operations  in  shallow  waters ;  and  far  up  in  the 
almost  inaccessible  waters  of  the  Roanoke  and  the  Neuse  it  was  known 
that  the  construction  of  armored  vessels,  as  well  as  of  others  of  light 
draught,  was  in  progress. 

On  April  17  the  enemy  besieged  Plymouth,  and  two  days  after  the 
ram  Albemarle,  a  formidable  iron-plated  battery,  descended  the  Roanoke 
and  attacked  the  wooden  gunboats  lying  off  that  town.  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Flusser,  in  anticipation  of  the  attack,  had  chained  together 
his  vessels,  the  Miami  and  the  Southfield,  intending  to  fight  the  ram  in 
that  way,  but  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  she  made  her  appearance, 
and  in  half  an  hour  had  sunk  the  Southfield,  disabled  the  Miami,  whose 
gallant  commander  was  killed,  and  obtained  possession  of  the  river.  The 


152  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

next  day  the  defences  of  the  town  were  carried,  the  garrison  takers 
prisoners,  and  thus  the  entire  command  of  the  upper  sound  passed  into- 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

To  prevent  further  disaster,  vigorous  measures  were  at  once  adopted. 
Captain  Melanchthon  Smith  was  ordered  to  assume  command  in  the 
sounds,  with  instructions  to  attack  the  ram,  at  all  hazards,  in  the  best 
manner  to  insure  its  destruction.  On  the  5th  of  May  the  enemy  besieged 
Newberne,  and  on  the  same  day  the  ram  again  came  out.  Captain  Smith 
promptly  engaged  her,  with  four  vessels, — the  Metabessett,  Wyalusing, 
Sassacus,  and  Whitehead.  The  engagement  began  about  half-past  four, 
and  continued  furiously  for  three  hours,  the  gunboats  firing  rapidly  and1 
repeatedly,  and  ramming  the  battery  with  such  effect  that  at  dark  she 
retired  up  the  river,  and  did  not  again  make  her  appearance  until  the 
24th,  when  she  was  seen  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  but,  on  a  shell 
being  thrown  from  the  Whitehead,  immediately  returned.  It  was  not, 
however,  until  the  destruction  of  the  ram  by  Lieutenant  Gushing,  that 
Commander  Macomb  was  enabled  to  drive  the  rebels  from  their  works, 
at  Plymouth,  and  re-establish  the  supremacy  of  the  government  in  the 
waters  of  North  Carolina. 

The  following-named  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  the  North 
Atlantic  Squadron  on  the  ist  of  January,  1864:  Flag-ship  Minnesota, 
Captain  John  Schermerhorn  and  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  F.  Williams ;. 
iron-clad  steamer  Roanoke,  First  Lieutenant  Frank  Munroe,  subsequently 
First  Lieutenant  L.  P.  French.  The  remainder  of  the  vessels  of  this 
squadron,  with  some  few  exceptions,  were  supplied  with  sergeant's  guards, 
and  in  all  the  operations  on  James  River,  in  the  sounds  of  North 
Carolina,  and  off  Cape  Fear  River  and  adjacent  inlets,  the  Marines 
shared  in  the  labor  and  successes  of  their  brethren  of  the  Navy,  and  won 
the  hearty  approbation  of  their  commanding  officers,  of  the  Department, 
and  of  the  country. 

On  the  ist  of  January,  Lieutenant  Louis  E.  Fagan  of  the  Marines,  in 
command  of  thirty  men,  participated  in  the  expedition  which,  under 
orders  from  Admiral  Dahlgren,  destroyed  a  Confederate  vessel  and 
valuable  cargo  in  Murrill's  Inlet.  For  his  conduct  in  this  affair,  Lieu 
tenant  Fagan  received  honorable  mention  in  the  official  report  of 
Admiral  Dahlgren  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

On  the  night  of  April  18  the  Marines  on  the  Wabash,  off  Charleston, 
ably  assisted  in  repelling  the  attack  of  a  torpedo-boat.  They  were 
stationed  by  Ensign  Charles  H.  Crane,  who  happened  to  be  officer  of 
the  deck  at  the  time,  in  such  a  position  that  their  continued  and  well- 
directed  musketry  fire  had  an  excellent  effect  in  defeating  the  purposes 
of  the  enemy. 

On  the  1 2th  of  May,  Colonel-Commandant  John  Harris,  who  "had 
served  his  country  faithfully  and  well"  for  fifty  years,  died  at  head- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  153 

quarters,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  after  a  short  illness.  Major 
Jacob  Zeilin  was  commissioned,  on  the  loth  of  June,  to  succeed  him. 

While  the  attention  of  the  whole  nation  was  directed  to  the  contests 
going  on  at  home,  news  was  received  of  an  engagement  off  the  coast  of 
France,  the  result  of  which  served  to  encourage  the  North,  and  to  create 
a  corresponding  feeling  of  regret,  if  not  of  despondency,  in  the  South. 

At  10.20  A.M.  on  Sunday,  June  10,  1864,  the  Kearsarge,  while  off  the 
port  of  Cherbourg,  France,  discovered  the  piratical  steamer  Alabama, 
accompanied  by  the  English  yacht  Deerhound,  standing  out.  Captain 
Winslow  at  once  cleared  his  ship  for  action,  and  when  the  Alabama  had 
reached  the  distance  of  seven  miles  from  the  shore,, and  was  about  nine 
hundred  yards  from  the  Kearsarge,  the  engagement  commenced.  Cap 
tain  Winslow,  fearing  that  his  opponent  would,  in  case  of  injury,  steam 
in  within  the  line  of  jurisdiction  for  protection,  determined  to  run  under 
her  stern  and  rake.  To  avoid  this,  Semmes,  the  commander  of  the  Ala 
bama,  sheered,  and  keeping  broadside  on  to  the  Kearsarge,  was  forced 
into  a  circular  track  ;  at  the  seventh  rotation,  the  Alabama  was  disabled, 
and  headed  for  the  shore ;  another  shot  brought  down  the  rebel  flag,  and 
a  white  one  was  run  up;  at  12.10  .an  officer  from  the  Alabama  came 
alongside  the  Kearsarge  and  surrendered  his  vessel,  which  was  reported 
in  a  sinking  condition,  and  at  12.30  P.M.  the  Alabama  went  down. 
Captain  Semmes  escaped  to  the  shore  in  the  English  yacht  Deerhound, 
as  did  many  of  his  officers  and  men.  The  remainder  were  picked  up  by 
the  boats  of  the  Kearsarge  and  taken  on  board  that  vessel.  Three  of  the 
crew  of  the  Kearsarge  were  wounded.  The  total  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  on  the  Alabama  has  never  been  given.  Seventeen  of  her 
wounded  men  were  picked  up  by  the  boats  of  the  victorious  vessel.  The 
battery  of  the  Kearsarge  consisted  of  seven  guns, — two  eleven-inch 
Dahlgren,  one  30-pounder  rifle,  and  four  light  32-pounders.  That  of  the 
Alabama  consisted  of  eight  guns,  one  heavy  68-pounder,  of  nine  thou 
sand  pounds  weight;  one  loo-pounder  rifle,  and  six  heavy  32-pounders. 
For  this  gallant  action,  the  only  sea  fight  of  the  war,  Captain  Winslow 
was  promoted  to  the  grade  of  Commodore,  his  commission  dating  July 
19,  1864. 

In  his  report  of  the  action,  Lieutenant-Commander  Thornton  says, 
"The  Marines  fought  the  rifle  gun  upon  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  under 
the  charge  of  Acting  Master's  Mate  Charles  H.  Danforth.  The  action 
on  our  part  was  commenced  by  this  gun,  and  its  fire  was  rapid  and 
effective  throughout.  The  high  reputation  of  their  service  was  nobly 
sustained  by  the  Marine  guard  of  this  ship.  The  orderly  sergeant,  C.  T. 
Young,  and  the  master-at-arms,  Jason  R  Watrous,  also  deserve  special 
mention  for  admirable  performance  of  their  duty."  The  following  is  a 
complete  list  of  the  Marines  who  were  on  board  the  Kearsarge :  Orderly 
Sergeant  Charles  T.  Young;  Corporals  Austin  Quimley  and  Henry 


154  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Hobson ;  Privates  R.  G.  Dolley,  Patrick  Flood,  James  Kerrigan,  John 
McAlun,  George  A.  Raymond,  James  Tucker,  Isaac  Thorton,  and  John 
G.  Batchelder. 

During  the  early  part  of  July,  in  an  engagement  between  the  United 
States  steamship  Wyoming,  Commander  D.  McDougal,  and  the  batteries 
at  Simonosaki,  Japan,  Private  Alexander  Furlong,  of  the  Marines,  was 
killed,  and  Private  Michael  Doyle  was  wounded. 

Later  in  the  same  month,  when  the  city  of  Washington  was  threatened 
by  the  Southern  army,  a  battalion  of  Marines  and  a  battery  of  howitzers, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  James  Forney,  assisted  by  Second  Lieu 
tenant  George  B.  Haycock,  were  ordered  from  Philadelphia  to  Havre 
de  Grace,  Maryland,  to  open  the  railroad  to  Baltimore,  then  in  posses 
sion  of  the  enemy.  Major  General  French  says,  "The  battalion  com 
manded  by  Captain  Forney  attracted  my  attention  by  its  fine  military 
appearance,  its  discipline,  and  the  admirable  manner  in  which  it  was 
handled.  The  arrangements  made  by  Captain  Forney  for  the  artillery 
to  repel  the  attack  threatened  upon  the  station  had  a  great  influence  in 
preventing  one.  The  rapid  manner  in  which  the  order  concentrating 
the  troops  at  Havre  de  Grace  was  obeyed  by  him,  and  the  valuable  and 
effective  services  performed  by  the  baUalion  under  his  direction  entitle 
him  and  them  to  the  recognition  of  the  government." 

The  bay  of  Mobile,  guarded  at  its  entrance  by  two  formidable  fortifi 
cations,  constructed  by  the  government  in  former  years,  was  difficult  to 
blockade,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  ports  for  trade  with  the  rebels. 
It  had  been  the  intention  of  the  Navy  Department  to  get  possession  of 
that  bay  as  soon  as  operations  on  the  Mississippi  would  permit  the  de 
tachment  of  a  sufficient  co-operative  military  force  for  the  expedition. 
In  this  there  was  delay,  caused  by  the  army  being  fully  occupied  in  other 
quarters.  In  the  mean  time  the  rebels,  availing  themselves  of  the  advan 
tages  of  their  position,  proceeded  to  the  construction  and  collection  of 
a  formidable  Navy,  with  the  view  of  raising  the  blockade.  The  infor 
mation  received  was  of  such  a  character  that  the  Department  deemed  it 
important  that  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  should  resume  his  command, 
which  he  did,  and  on  the  i8th  of  January,  1864,  arrived  off  Mobile. 

Knowing  the  disadvantages  of  attacking  iron-cased  vessels  with 
wooden  ones,  and  that,  too,  in  the  face  and  under  the  guns  of  heavy 
fortresses,  without  a  co-operative  land  force,  he  deferred  the  movement 
until  the  necessary  elements  of  success  could  reach  him.  But  in  the 
mean  time  he  stood  ever  ready  to  meet  and  measure  his  strength  with 
the  iron-clad  fleet  of  Buchanan,  should  it  venture  to  come  out.  Thus 
he  constantly  threatened  an  attack  on  Mobile,  thereby  aiding  the  army 
in  its  general  movements  elsewhere. 

Military  co-operation  was  secured  early  in  July,  and  two  ironclads 
from  the  James  River  and  two  from  the  Mississippi  having  reached  him, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  155 

Rear-Admiral  Farragut  made  his  final  preparations  for  his  attack  on  the 
rebel  defences  of  Mobile  Bay. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  held  a  consultation  with 
Generals  Canby  and  Granger,  on  board  the  Hartford,  on  the  subject  of 
an  attack  upon  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines,  at  which  it  was  agreed  that 
General  Canby  would  send  all  the  troops  he  could  spare  to  co-operate 
with  the  fleet.  Circumstances  soon  obliged  General  Canby  to  inform 
Rear-Admiral  Farragut  that  he  could  not  spare  a  sufficient  number  of 
troops  to  invest  both  forts  ;  and  in  reply  Farragut  suggested  that  Fort 
Gaines  should  be  the  first  invested,  engaging  to  have  a  force  on  the  sound 
ready  to  cover  the  landing  of  the  army  on  Dauphin  Island,  in  the  rear  of 
that  fort.  Lieutenant-Commander  De  Kraft,  of  the  Conemaugh,  was 
detailed  to  that  duty. 

A  second  consultation  between  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  and  General 
Granger  was  held  on  board  the  Hartford  on  the  ist  of  August,  and  the 
4th  of  the  month  was  fixed  upon  as  the  day  for  the  landing  of  the  troops, 
and  the  entrance  of  the  fleet  into  the  bay.  But  owing  to  the  unavoidable 
delay  of  the  iron-clad  Tecumseh  at  Pensacola,  the  fleet  was  not  ready  to 
move.  General  Granger,  however,  was  up  to  time,  and  the  troops 
actually  landed  on  Dauphin  Island.  In  the  light  of  subsequent  events 
the  delay  proved  an  advantage,  as  the  rebels  were  busily  engaged  during 
the  4th  in  throwing  troops  and  supplies  into  Fort  Gaines,  all  of  which 
were  captured  a  few  days  afterwards. 

The  Tecumseh  arrived  in  the  evening  of  the  4th,  and,  everything  being 
propitious,  the  attack  was  commenced  on  the  following  morning.  The 
fleet  was  under  way  by  5.40  A.M.,  in  the  following  order,  two  abreast  and 
lashed  together:  Brooklyn,  Captain  James  Alden,  with  the  Octorara, 
Lieutenant-Commander  C.  H.  Green,  on  the  port  side;  flag-ship  Hart 
ford,  Captain  Percival  Drayton,  with  the  Metacomet,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  J.  E.  Jouett;  Richmond,  Captain  T.  A.  Jenkins,  with  the  Port 
Royal,  Lieutenant-Commander  B.  Gherardi ;  Lackwanna,  Captain  J.  B. 
Marchand,  with  the  Seminole,  Commander  E.  Donaldson ;  Monongahela, 
Commander  J.  H.  Strong,  with  the  Kennebec,  Lieutenant-Commander 
W.  P.  McCann ;  Ossipee,  Commander  W.  E.  Le  Roy,  with  the  Itasca, 
Lieutenant-Commander  George  Brown  ;  Oneida,  Commander  J.  R. 
Mullany,  with  the  Galena,  Lieutenant-Commander  C.  H.  Welles.  The 
ironclad  Tecumseh,  Commander  T.  H.  M.  Craven  ;  the  Winnebago, 
Commander  T.  H.  Stevens;  the  Manhattan,  Commander  J.  W.  A. 
Nicholson;  and  the  Chickasaw,  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  H.  Perkins, 
were  already  inside  the  bar,  and  had  been  ordered  to  take  up  their  posi 
tion  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  wooden  vessels,  or  between  them  and 
Fort  Morgan,  for  the  double  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  fire  of  the 
water  battery  and  the  parapet  guns  of  the  fort,  as  well  as  to  attack  the 
ram  Tennessee  as  soon  as  the  fort  was  passed. 


156  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

At  the  urgent  request  of  the  captains  and  commanding  officers  of  the 
fleet,  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  yielded  to  the  Brooklyn  being  the  leading 
ship-of-the-line,  as  she  had  four  chase  guns,  and  an  ingenious  arrange 
ment  for  picking  up  torpedoes ;  and  because,  in  their  judgment,  the  flag 
ship  should  not  be  too  much  exposed.  The  attacking  ships  steamed 
steadily  up  the  main  ship-channel,  the  Tecumseh  firing  the  first  shot  at 
forty-seven  minutes  past  six  o'clock. 

At  six  minutes  past  seven  o'clock,  the  fort  opened  upon  the  fleet,  and 
was  replied  to  by  a  gun  from  the  Brooklyn,  and  immediately  afterwards 
the  action  became  general. 

It  was  soon  apparent  that  there  was  some  difficulty  ahead.  The  Brook 
lyn,  having  got  into  shoal  water,  stopped,  and  by  so  doing  arrested  the 
advance  of  the  fleet,  while  at  the  same  time  the  guns  of  the  fort  were 
playing  with  great  effect  upon  that  vessel  and  the  Hartford.  A  moment 
after,  the  ironclad  Tecumseh  was  struck  by  a  torpedo,  and  disappeared 
almost  instantaneously  beneath  the  waves,  carrying  down  her  gallant 
commander  and  nearly  all  her  crew.  At  this  juncture,  Rear-Admiral 
Farragut,  after  ordering  the  Metacomet  to  send  a  boat  to  save,  if  possible, 
any  of  the  perishing  crew  of  the  Tecumseh,  dashed  ahead  with  the  Hart 
ford,  closely  followed  by  the  Brooklyn  and  the  other  ships.  The  Hart 
ford  steamed  through  the  buoys  where  the  torpedoes  were  to  have  been 
sunk,  Farragut  believing  that  from  their  having  been  some  time  in  the 
water  they  were  partially  innocuous,  and  determined  to  take  the  chance 
of  their  explosion.  From  the  moment  the  vessels  turned  to  the  north 
westward  to  clear  the  middle  ground,  they  were  enabled  to  keep  such 
broadside  fire  upon  the  batteries  of  Fort  Morgan  that  the  rebel  guns  did 
comparatively  little  injury. 

Just  as  Farragut  passed  the  fort,  about  ten  minutes  before  eight  o'clock, 
the  ram  dashed  at  the  flag-ship,  as  had  been  expected,  and  in  anticipa 
tion  of  which  the  Monitors  had  been  ordered  on  the  starboard  side.  He 
took  no  further  notice  of  the  ram  than  to  return  her  fire.  The  rebel 
gunboats  Morgan,  Gaines,  and  Selma  ran  ahead,  and  the  latter  particu 
larly  annoyed  the  flag-ship  with  a  raking  fire  which  her  guns  could  not 
return.  At  8  A.M.  Farragut  ordered  the  Metacomet  to  cast  off  and  go- 
in  pursuit  of  the  Selma.  Captain  Jouett  was  after  her  in  a  moment,  and 
in  an  hour's  time  he  had  her  as  a  prize.  The  Morgan  and  Gaines  suc 
ceeded  in  escaping  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Morgan.  The  Gaines  was  so 
injured  that  she  had  to  be  run  ashore,  where  she  was  subsequently  de 
stroyed ;  but  the  Morgan  escaped  to  Mobile  during  the  night,  although 
she  was  chased  and  fired  upon. 

Having  passed  the  forts  and  dispersed  the  enemy's  gunboats,  most  of 
the  vessels  were  ordered  to  anchor,  when  the  ram  Tennessee  was  seen 
standing  for  the  flag-ship.  This  was  at  forty-five  minutes  past  eight. 
The  monitors  and  such  of  the  wooden  vessels  as  were  best  adapted  for 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  157 

the  purpose  were  immediately  ordered  to  attack  the  ram,  not  only  with 
their  guns,  but  with  bows  on  at  full  speed. 

The  Monongahela,  Commander  Strong,  was  the  first  vessel  that  struck 
her,  and  in  doing  so  carried  away  her  own  iron  prow,  together  with  the 
cutwater,  without  apparently  doing  her  adversary  much  injury.  The 
Lackawanna,  Captain  Marchand,  was  the  next  vessel  to  strike  her,  which 
she  did  at  full  speed ;  but  though  her  stern  was  cut  and  crushed  to  her 
plank-ends  for  the  distance  of  three  feet  above  the  water's  edge  to  five 
feet  below,  the  only  perceptible  effect  on  the  ram  was  to  give  her  a 
heavy  list.  The  Hartford  was  the  third  vessel  which  struck  her,  but,  as 
the  Tennessee  quickly  shifted  her  helm,  the  blow  was  a  glancing  one,  and 
as  she  rasped  along  the  side  the  flag-ship  poured  a  whole  port  broadside 
of  Q-inch  solid  shot  within  ten  feet  of  her  casement.  The  monitors,  work 
ing  slowly,  delivered  their  fire  as  opportunity  offered.  The  Chickasaw 
succeeded  in  getting  under  her  stern,  and  a  i5-inch  shot  from  the  Man 
hattan  broke  through  her  iron  plating  and  heavy  wooden  backing, 
though  the  missile  itself  did  not  enter  the  vessel. 

Immediately  after  the  collision  with  the  flag-ship,  Captain  Drayton 
was  directed  to  bear  down  for  the  ram  again.  He  was  doing  so  at  full 
speed,  when  unfortunately  the  Lackawanna  ran  into  the  Hartford  just 
forward  of  the  mizzen-mast,  cutting  her  down  to  within  two  feet  of  the 
water's  edge.  The  flag-ship  was  soon  got  clear  again,  and  was  rapidly 
approaching  the  Tennessee,  when  she  struck  her  colors  and  ran  up  the 
white  flag.  Just  at  this  time  she  was  sorely  beset :  the  Chickasaw  was 
pounding  away  at  her  stern,  the  Ossipee  was  approaching  her  at  full 
speed,  and  the  Monongahela,  Lackawanna,  and  the  Hartford  were  bear 
ing  down  upon  her,  determined  upon  her  destruction.  Her  smoke 
stack  had  been  shot  away,  her  steering  chains  were  gone,  compelling  a 
"resort  to  her  relieving  tackles,  and  several  of  her  port  shutters  were 
jammed.  From  the  time  the  Hartford  struck  her,  until  her  surrender, 
she  never  fired  a  gun. 

During  this  contest  with  the  rebel  gunboats  and  the  ram  Tennessee,  and 
which  terminated  by  her  surrender  at  ten  o'clock,  many  more  men  were 
lost  than  from  the  fire  of  the  batteries  of  Fort  Morgan.  Admiral 
Buchanan  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  two  or  three  of  his  men  were  killed, 
and  five  or  six  wounded.  Commander  Johnson,  formerly  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  was  in  command  of  the  Tennessee,  and  came  on  board  the 
flag-ship  to  surrender  his  sword  and  that  of  Admiral  Buchanan.  Thus 
terminated  the  famous  naval  battle  of  August  5,  1864. 

The  wounded  of  both  sides  were  sent  to  Pensacola  for  medical  treat 
ment. 

On  the  following  day  one  of  the  ironclads  shelled  Fort  Gaines  with 
such  effect  that  Colonel  Anderson,  the  commander,  sent  a  communica 
tion  to  Rear-Admiral  Farragut  offering  to  surrender.  General  Granger, 


158  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

commanding  the  military  forces,  was  sent  for,  and  the  terms  of  capitu 
lation  were  signed  by  the  respective  parties  on  board  of  the  Hartford. 

From  this  time  active  movements  were  in  progress  for  the  reduction 
of  Fort  Morgan,  and  on  the  22d  of  August,  at  daylight,  a  bombardment 
was  opened  from  the  shore  batteries,  the  monitors  and  ships  inside,  and 
the  vessels  outside  the  bay.  At  6  A.M.  of  the  23d  a  white  flag  was  dis 
played  by  the  rebels,  and  at  2  P.M.  the  fort  was  unconditionally  surren 
dered  to  the  Navy  and  army  of  the  United  States.  Fort  Powell  had 
been  attacked  on  the  night  of  the  5th  and  blown  up. 

The  capture  of  Forts  Powell,  Gaines,  and  Morgan  and  the  destruction 
of  the  rebel  fleet  gave  the  government  possession  of  the  bay  and  closed 
the  port  against  all  illicit  trade  with  the  rebels.  As  late  as  September  13, 
Rear-Admiral  Farragut  informed  the  Department  that  he  was  engaged  in 
removing  torpedoes  which  had  been  strewn  in  the  bay  to  obstruct  naval 
operations. 

The  Marines  in  this  engagement  were  among  the  foremost  at  every 
point  where  bravery  and  discipline  could  aid  in  winning  victory.  Cap 
tain  Percival  Drayton,  commanding  the  Hartford,  said,  in  reference  to 
his  vessel,  "  The  two  after-guns  were  entirely  manned  by  Marines,  who, 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Charles  Heywood,  performed  most 
efficient  service."  Captain  James  Alden,  commanding  the  Brooklyn, 
said  that  Captain  Houston  of  the  Marines  fought  his  guns  "  nobly  and 
well."  Lieutenant-Commander  George  Brown,  commanding  the  Itasca, 
reported  that  "The  Marines  conducted  themselves  with  the  usual  dis 
tinguished  gallantry  of  their  Corps.  Sergeant  James  S.  Roantree  is  par 
ticularly  deserving  of  notice."  Similar  testimony  was  given  by  others  of 
the  naval  officers.  The  following  is  a  list  of  officers  of  the  Corps  attached 
to  vessels  in  this  action  :  Flag-ship  Hartford,  Captain  Charles  Heywood; 
Brooklyn,  Captain  G.  P.  Houston  ;  Richmond,  First  Lieutenant  C.  L. 
Sherman.  The  remaining  vessels,  with  the  exception  of  the  monitors, 
carried  sergeant's  guards,  as  follows  :  Octorara,  Metacomet,  Port  Royal, 
Seminole,  Kennebec,  Itasca,  Galena,  Lackawanna,  Monongahela,  Ossipee, 
and  Oneida.  The  list  of  Marines  killed  and  wounded  was  as  follows : 
Monongahela,  wounded,  Private  William  Feeney.  Brooklyn,  killed, 
Privates  Michael  Murphy  and  W.  Smith  ;  wounded,  Private  George  R. 
Leland.  Lackawanna,  wounded,  Privates  James  Keefe  and  Frederick 
Hines.  Oneida,  wounded,  Corporal  David  Johnston  and  Private  John 
Kilroy. 

Below  is  a  list  of  Marines  who  received  especial  honorable  mention 
from  their  commanding  officers,  and  who  received  "medals  of  honor" 
from  the  Department :  On  board  the  Brooklyn,  Sergeants  J.  Henry  Den- 
nig  and  Michael  Hudson,  and  William  M.  Smith  and  Miles  M.  Oviatt, 
corporals,  "for  conspicuous  good  conduct  at  their  guns."  On  board 
the  Richmond,  Orderly  Sergeant  David  Sprowls,  "  recommended  for 


CHARLES  HEYWOOD, 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  U.  S.  MARINE  CORPS. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

coolness  and  for  setting  a  good  example  to  the  Marine  guard,  working  a 
division  of  great-guns;  joined  the  Richmond  September  27,  1860;  was 
in  the  actions  with  Fort  McRea,  the  head  of  the  passes  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the  Chalmettes,  the  rebel  ironclads 
and  gunboats  below  New  Orleans,  Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  and  present 
at  the  surrender  of  New  Orleans."  On  the  same  vessel,  Sergeant  Andrew 
Miller,  "recommended  for  coolness  and  good  conduct  as  captain  of  a 
gun  in  the  action  ;  was  on  board  the  Brooklyn  in  the  actions  with  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the  Chalmettes,  the  rebel  ironclads  and  gun 
boats  below  New  Orleans,  batteries  below  Vicksburg,  and  present  at  the 
surrender  of  New  Orleans."  Same  vessel,  Sergeant  James  Martin, 
"recommended  for  coolness  and  good  conduct  as  captain  of  a  gun  in 
the  action  ;  was  in  the  actions  with  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the 
Chalmettes,  the  ironclads  and  gunboats  below  New  Orleans,  Vicksburg, 
Port  Hudson,  and  present  at  the  surrender  of  New  Orleans,  on  board  of 
the  Richmond." 

Fort  Powell,  situated  at  Grant's  Pass,  the  entrance  to  Mobile  Bay  on 
the  west,  was  rendered  useless  to  the  enemy  after  a  heavy  bombardment 
by  the  Chickasaw,  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  H.  Perkins.  The  next 
morning  a  detachment  of  twenty-five  Marines,  commanded  by  Captain 
Charles  Heywood  and  Lieutenant  Sherman,  was  sent  to  take  possession  of 
the  fort  and  to  prevent  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  at  Fort  Gaines  to  the 
mainland.  The  detachment  remained  in  Fort  Powell  thirty  days. 

On  the  ist  of  October  the  Wabash  went  ashore  on  the  outer  edge  of 
Frying  Pan  Shoals.  The  "crew"  consisted  of  a  motley  assemblage  of 
negroes,  landsmen,  and  boys,  who  had  been  temporarily  shipped  to  do 
duty  until  the  new  crew  could  be  received  at  Norfolk.  Either  through 
ignorance  or  unwillingness,  the  men  failed  to  obey  orders,  and  the  frigate 
was  in  danger  of  serious  injury,  if  not  of  becoming  a  total  loss.  The 
launch  was  ordered  to  be  manned  and  a  kedge  anchor  carried  out. 
None  obeyed  the  summons  except  a  few  old  sailors,  and  it  was  found  im 
possible  to  get  the  boat  from  the  side  of  the  frigate.  In  this  emergency 
the  Marines,  under  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan,  were  called  upon  by  Captain 
De  Camp,  and  with  alacrity  they  obeyed  the  order.  In  a  few  moments 
they  were  away  from  the  ship,  pulling  like  "old  salts"  at  the  oars.  The 
anchor  was  placed,  and  when  the  tide  came  in  the  ship  floated  and  was 
safe.  The  efficiency  of  the  Marines  in  that  hour  of  emergency,  won  the 
praises  of  the  commander  of  the  frigate,  who  frequently  alluded  to  their 
action  in  the  affair  in  words  of  commendation. 

In  February,  Lieutenants  R.  S.  Collum  and  H.  C.  Cochrane  were 
ordered  to  Mound  City,  Illinois,  with  a  detachment  of  forty  men,  to 
guard  the  ordnance  stores  which  supplied  the  Mississippi  squadron. 
Subsequently  Lieutenant  Cochrane  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
Marines  of  the  flag-ship  Black  Hawk. 


160  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

1864.— The  Civil  War,  VIII.— The  Expedition  under  Admiral  Porter  up  Red  River— 

The  First  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher. 

ON  the  7th  of  March,  Rear- Admiral  Porter  had  assembled  at  the  mouth 
of  Red  River  a  formidable  fleet  of  ironclads  composed  of  the  following 
vessels :  Essex,  Commander  Townsend  ;  Eastport,  Commander  Phelps ; 
Benton,  Lieutenant-Commander  Greer;  Lafayette,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Foster ;  Choctaw,  Lieutenant-Commander  Ramsay  ;  Louisville, 
Lieutenant-Commander  Owens ;  Carondelet,  Lieutenant-Commander 
Mitchell;  Osage,  Lieutenant  Commander  Selfridge;  Ouchita,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Byron  Wilson  ;  Fort  Hindman,  Lieutenant  Pierce ;  Pitts- 
burg,  A.  V.  Lieutenant  Hoel ;  Chillicothe,  A.  V.  Lieutenant  Conthony, 
who  was  killed  on  the  way  up  the  river.  On  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Con 
thony  Lieutenant-Commander  Watson  Smith  was  ordered  to  the  command. 
Mound  City,  A.  V.  Lieutenant  Langthorne ;  Neosho,  A.  V.  Lieutenant 
Howard  ;  and  a  force  of  light-draught  vessels,  consisting  of  Black  Hawk, 
Lieutenant-Commander  K.  R.  Breese ;  Lexington,  Lieutenant  Bache ; 
Cricket,  Acting  Master  Gorringe  ;  Gazelle,  Acting  Master  Thatcher. 
The  fleet  was  joined  at  the  mouth  of  Red  River  by  a  portion  of  General 
Sherman's  forces  in  transports,  under  the  command  of  General  A.  J. 
Smith.  The  joint  forces  moved  up  the  river  on  the  loth  of  March 
to  form  a  junction  with  Major- General  Banks  at  Alexandria.  In  their 
progress  some  of  the  vessels  branched  off  into  the  Atchafalaya,  while  the 
main  portion  continued  up  Red  River.  The  rebels  were  driven  in  turn 
from  Simmsport  and  Fort  de  Russy,  the  latter  being  again  captured  with 
its  guns  and  munitions  of  war  and  a  few  prisoners.  Some  of  the  fleetest 
vessels  were  despatched  to  Alexandria  with  the  hope  of  cutting  off  the  rebels 
in  their  retreat,  but  without  success.  The  place  was  occupied  by  the  com 
bined  forces,  and  about  the  ist  of  April  both  army  and  Navy  commenced 
to  move  up  the  river  towards  Shrevesport.  A  part  only  of  the  naval 
force  could  proceed  farther  up  the  river  than  Alexandria,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  they  reached  that  point.  But  the  assistance  of  the  gun 
boats  was  so  essential  to  success  that  some  risks  had  to  be  taken,  and  ex 
traordinary  exertions  were  made  to  pass  the  vessels  over  the  falls,  so  as  to 
secure  the  required  co-operation.  Main  force  had  to  be  used  to  haul  the 
gunboats.  Grand  Ecore  was  reached  without  accident  and  occupied 
without  opposition.  There  were  at  this  time  indications  of  the  usual  rise 
of  the  season  in  the  river,  and  everything  promised  success.  Twenty- 
three  heavy  guns  had  been  captured  from  the  enemy  since  their  entrance 
into  the  river. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  161 

Springfield  landing  was  designated  as  the  point  for  the  next  juncture 
of  the  co-operating  forces,  and  it  was  reached  at  the  appointed  time, 
three  days  after  leaving  Grand  Ecore,  by  six  gunboats  and  twenty  heavy 
transports.  Here  they  learned  that  the  army  under  General  Banks  had 
met  a  reverse,  and  was  falling  back  to  Pleasant  Hill,  some  distance  below. 
Rear-Admiral  Porter  was  therefore  compelled  to  turn  back,  with  the  full 
knowledge  that  in  retracing  his  steps  he  would  be  interrupted  at  every 
assailable  point.  The  rebels,  flushed  with  their  success  against  the  army, 
availed  themselves  of  every  opportunity  which  offered  for  harassing  the 
gunboats  and  transports.  The  cavalry  and  artillery,  taking  advantage 
of  the  winding  stream,  moved  rapidly  from  point  to  point,  attacking  on 
every  available  occasion.  But  the  gunboats  successfully  fought  their  way, 
and  from  time  to  time  repelled  their  assailants  with  terrible  slaughter. 

On  the  1 4th  of  April,  Rear-Admiral  Porter  got  back  to  Grand  Ecore, 
where  he  found  the  vessels  which  he  had  left  at  that  point  still  detained 
above  the  bar.  The  river,  instead  of  .rising  as  usual  at  this  season,  had 
fallen  during  his  absence.  The  army  was  preparing  to  move  back  upon 
Alexandria;  the  water  having  so  receded,  there  was  little  hope  of  get 
ting  the  vessels  out,  and  destruction  apparently  awaited  the  best  portion 
of  the  squadron.  But,  in  the  words  of  the  admiral,  "Providence  pro 
vided  a  man  for  the  occasion."  Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  Bailey,  act 
ing  engineer  of  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  an  intelligent  and  efficient 
officer,  devised  a  plan  for  the  construction  of  a  series  of  dams  across  the 
rocks  at  the  falls,  thus,  by  artificial  means,  supplying  that  which  nature 
withheld, — a  sufficient  depth  of  water  for  the  passage  of  the  vessels. 

Extraordinary  as  was  the  project,  and  received  with  incredulity,  the 
mind  that  conceived  it  was  enabled  to  carry  it  into  successful  operation. 
Men  were  set  to  work,  wood-cutters  collected,  quarries  opened,  and  after 
some  weeks  the  undertaking  was  accomplished.  The  dams  were  built ; 
the  vessels  passed  safely  over  the  falls,  to  the  delight  of  the  assembled 
army  and  Navy,  who  had  mutually  participated  in  this  work,  and  on  the 
1 6th  of  May,  Rear- Admiral  Porter  had  the  satisfaction  of  announcing 
that  the  fleet  was  relieved  from  danger. 

There  is  probably,  in  naval  history,  no  other  instance  of  such  peril 
and  difficulty  so  successfully  and  skilfully  surmounted.  Congress  appro 
priately  acknowledged  the  services  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey  on  this 
occasion,  and  they  were  still  further  recognized  by  his  promotion. 

A  division  of  the  Red  River  expedition  that  was  unable  to  get  above 
the  falls  was  sent,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Commander  James  P. 
Foster,  up  the  Washita  River  as  far  as  Monroe.  This  force  captured 
three  thousand  bales  of  Confederate  cotton,  brought  out  eight  hundred 
negroes,  and  destroyed  much  rebel  property. 

While  above  the  falls,  Rear-Admiral  Porter  received  intelligence  of 
the  capture  of  Fort  Pillow;  he  despatched  a  force  of  ironclads  to  that 


1 62  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

point  to  prevent  its  permanent  occupation  by  the  rebels,  and  to  keep  the 
river  open  to  commerce.  On  the  25th  of  March  the  rebels  made  an 
attack  upon  Paducah  and  demanded  its  immediate  surrender,  saying 
they  would  give  no  quarter  if  refused.  The  gunboats  Peosta,  Paw  Pawy 
and  Fort  Hindman,  at  once  opened  fire  upon  the  rebels,  and  with  such 
effect  as  to  drive  them  off  with  great  loss. 

Captain  Pennock,  naval  commandant  at  Cairo,  upon  receiving  intelli 
gence  of  the  attack  upon  Paducah,  at  once  sent  up  reinforcements  of 
gunboats  to  the  assistance  of  those  already  there,  and  the  same  officer 
saved  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and  recovered  Fort  Pillow,  thus  preventing 
a  blockade  of  the  river  by  his  zeal  and  personal  exertions  in  hastening 
reinforcements  to  those  points. 

The  attacks  upon  Fort  Pillow,  Columbus,  and  Paducah  were  made  at 
the  time  when  the  greater  portion  of  the  Mississippi  squadron  was  oper 
ating  on  the  Red  River  and  its  tributaries.  Anticipating  that  the  enemy 
would  avail  themselves  of  the  absence  of  his  more  formidable  vessels  to 
attack  certain  points  within  the  limits  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  squad 
ron,  Rear-Admiral  Porter  had  intrusted  to  Fleet-Captain  Pennock  the 
entire  control  of  the  vessels  stationed  on  the  Ohio,  Tennessee,  and  Cum 
berland  Rivers,  and  on  the  Mississippi  as  far  down  as  Memphis,  thus 
enabling  him  to  act  promptly  when  the  time  arrived.  In  his  detailed 
report  of  the  naval  operations  before  Vicksburg,  Rear-Admiral  Porter 
acknowledged,  in  the  handsomest  terms,  his  indebtedness  to  Fleet-Cap 
tain  Pennock,  who  was  also  commandant  of  the  naval  station  at  Cairo, 
for  the  promptness  with  which  he  kept  the  squadron  supplied  with  all 
that  was  required  or  could  be  procured. 

Rear-Admiral  Porter,  having  been  for  nearly  two  years  on  arduous  and 
exhausting  duty  on  the  Mississippi,  received  leave  to  return  East  in  the 
summer,  and  was  subsequently  detached  in  order  to  take  command  of 
the  North  Atlantic  Squadron.  Captain  A.  W.  Pennock,  senior  officer 
on  the  station,  was  left  in  charge.  On  the  ist  of  November,  Acting 
Rear-Admiral  S.  P.  Lee  assumed  command  of  the  Mississippi  Squadron 
and  entered  on  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

For  a  long  time,  since  early  in  1862,  the  Navy  Department  had  been 
fully  aware  of  the  importance  of  closing  the  port  of  Wilmington.  It 
was  the  last  port  remaining  to  the  rebels,  and  it  was  through  it  that  sup 
plies  and  munitions  were  now  obtained ;  through  it  cotton  was  sent  to 
Europe  and  the  rebel  credit  abroad  chiefly  sustained.  Owing,  however, 
to  the  many  claims  upon  its  attention,  the  co-operation  of  the  War  De 
partment,  though  often  asked  for,  could  not  be  obtained  until,  in  the 
fall  of  1864,  Lieutenant-General  Grant,  having  given  the  subject  the 
closest  consideration,  was  of  opinion  that,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of 
the  Navy,  a  landing  might  be  effected  on  the  beach.  A  part  of  the  naval 
vessels  might,  he  thought,  force  a  passage  beyond  the  batteries,  and  thus, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  163 

the  works  on  Cape  Fear  being  isolated,  a  combined  attack  upon  them 
might  be  followed  by  their  reduction. 

This  plan  of  operations  the  heads  of  departments  adopted,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  select,  for  the  command  of  the  very  large  fleet  which 
would  be  required,  that  officer  whose  past  career  would  be  the  best 
guarantee  of  future  services.  The  choice  fell  upon  Admiral  Farragut. 
But  the  health  of  this  distinguished  officer  had  been  so  impaired  by  long 
and  arduous  service  in  the  gulf  that  he  was  obliged  to  decline  the  com 
mand,  and  Rear-Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  who  had  become  distinguished 
in  connection  with  the  series  of  brilliant  operations  of  the  Mississippi 
Squadron,  was  selected  in  his  place,  and  ordered  to  take  command  of 
the  North  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron.  This  placed  the  port  of  Wil 
mington  and  its  defences  within  the  sphere  of  his  operations.  Major- 
General  Butler  was  to  have  command  of  the  land  forces. 

The  ist  of  October  was  first  named  for  the  sailing  of  the  expedition, 
but  so  many  delays  occurred  that  it  was  not  until  the  month  of  December 
that  the  expedition  was  in  motion.  This  delay  seems  to  have  been  unavoid 
able  on  the  part  of  the  army,  owing  to  the  many  operations  in  which  it 
was  engaged,  but  the  naval  preparations  were  complete  long  before.  In 
the  mean  time  every  squadron  was  suffering  a  depletion  to  furnish  the 
vessels  which  lay  idle  at  Hampton  Roads  and  Beaufort.  At  length, 
however,  all  was  in  readiness,  and,  on  the  i6th  of  December,  the  troops 
were  embarked  in  transports,  only  to  be  once  more  delayed,  however, 
by  a  severe  gale,  which  lasted  three  days,  and  caused  them  severe  suffer 
ing  in  their  crowded  quarters. 

On  the  1 8th,  Admiral  Porter  sailed  from  Beaufort  with  all  the  monitors 
and  smaller  vessels,  and  was  joined  at  the  rendezvous,  twenty  miles  east 
of  New  Inlet,  on  the  North  Carolina  coast,  by  the  larger  war  vessels  and 
by  the  transports  which  had  there  assembled.  The  next  day  another 
heavy  gale  set  in,  which  lasted  two  days.  This  somewhat  scattered  the 
fleet,  but  a  calm  succeeded,  with  weather  so  favorable  that  at  length  the 
propitious  time  seemed  to  have  arrived. 

A  novel  experiment  was,  however,  to  be  first  made  :  a  powder  magazine 
was  to  be  exploded,  so  close  to  the  fort  that  it  was  thought  by  many  that 
the  fort  itself  would  be  levelled  to  the  ground,  or  that  the  magazines  of 
the  fort  would  be  ignited,  and  that  thus  the  rebels  and  all  their  works 
would  be  swept  from  the  earth.  A  vessel  called  the  Louisiana,  which 
had  been  brought  from  Norfolk,  loaded  with  an  immense  charge  of 
powder,  and  carefully  fitted  with  long  fuses  and  machinery,  was  to  do 
this  deadly  work.  On  the  night  of  the  23d  she  was  towed  by  another 
steamer  close  in  shore,  so  near  that  the  guns  in  the  casemates  of  Fort 
Fisher  could  be  distinguished  from  her  deck.  The  rebels,  mistaking  her 
for  a  blockade-runner,  welcomed  her  with  the  usual  signals,  and  the 
brave  little  party  having  her  in  charge  lighted  their  fuses  and  fires  in  the 

ii 


164  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

cabins  almost  in  sight  of  the  garrison.  They  then  took  to  their  small 
boat,  and  escaped  to  the  vessel  which  had  towed  the  powder-boat  to  the 
shore.  An  hour  after,  the  explosion  followed,  but  the  result  was  by  no 
means  what  was  hoped  for.  The  enemy  was  somewhat  stunned  for  a 
time,  but  little  real  damage  was  done. 

Ill  the  mean  time  the  fleet  remained  at  a  distance  of  twelve  miles 
from  the  bar,  and  the  transports  at  an  equal  distance  down  the  coast,  but 
with  orders  to  stand  in  shore  as  soon  as  the  noise  of  the  explosion  should 
be  heard.  A  carefully-prepared  plan  had  been  distributed  to  each  com 
mander  of  a  vessel,  and,  early  in  the  morning,  they  were  to  take  their 
places  accordingly,  and  to  open  fire  as  each  got  its  assigned  position. 
The  whole  fleet,  consisting  of  about  fifty  vessels,  was  formed  in  three 
divisions,  each  with  its  reserve  close  at  hand,  and  all  placed  upon  the 
radius  of  a  circle  about  a  mile  from  the  fort.  At  11.30  the  New  Iron 
sides  took  its  position,  and  at  once  opened  fire,  followed  by  the  Monad- 
nock,  Canonicus,  and  Mahopac.  At  first  the  enemy  replied  briskly,  but 
as  the  larger  vessels  were  followed  by  the  others,  each  adding  to  the 
deadliness  of  the  fire,  his  guns  were  served  with  less  vigor,  and,  in  an 
hour  and  a  quarter  after  the  first  shot  was  fired,  the  fort  relapsed  into 
silence.  The  effect  within  the  fort  of  such  a  concentrated  fire  must  have 
been  fearful.  Two  of  the  magazines  were  blown  up,  and  shot  and  shell 
so  rained  upon  the  garrison  that  no  living  thing  could  stand  it.  The 
bravest  would  have  been  forced  to  take  refuge  in  the  bomb-proofs.  A 
moderate  fire  was  continued  for  three  hours  after  the  enemy  had  ceased 
to  reply,  but  the  army  transports  not  having  arrived,  the  fleet  retired  for 
the  night  to  a  safe  anchorage. 

During  this  day's  operations,  a  few  of  the  vessels  were  struck,  and  one 
or  two  were  severely  injured,  but  they  were  of  the  smaller  and  less 
serviceable  class.  Much  damage,  however,  was  done  by  the  bursting  of 
large  guns  in  the  fleet.  No  less  than  six  of  the  loo-pound  Parrots  thus 
exploded,  killing  and  wounding  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men. 
The  next  day  was  Christmas,  and  all  the  transports  had  come  in.  After 
consultation  with  General  Weitzel,  on  the  part  of  General  Butler,  a  plan 
of  operations  was  decided  upon.  The  forts  were  to  be  attacked  again 
by  the  Navy,  while  the  army  should  be  landed  and  an  assault  made.  A 
hundred  small  boats  were  to  assist  in  landing  the  troops.  At  seven 
o'clock,  on  the  25th,  signal  was  made  to  get  under  way,  and  the  vessels 
proceeded  to  take  position  as  before,  which  they  did  promptly  and  in 
the  best  order.  Again  the  terrible  rain  fell  around  and  over  the  fort, 
but  this  day  little  reply  was  made  from  the  fort.  The  landing  of  the 
troops  was  begun  about  five  miles  farther  up  the  beach,  and  was  quite 
unopposed.  Three  thousand  men  were  put  ashore,  and  a  reconnoisance 
made  of  the  neighborhood  of  the  works.  One  soldier  even  went  inside 
the  fort ;  an  orderly  with  despatches  was  captured,  and  the  flag-staff, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  165 

which  had  been  shot  down,  was  brought  away ;  but  the  enemy  kept  him 
self  so  close  that  scarce  a  human  being  was  to  be  seen. 

Two  light  batteries  and  a  few  men  were  captured.  But  General 
Butler  decided  that  the  fort  was  substantially  uninjured  as  a  place  of 
defence;  that  so  soon  as  the  fire  of  the  fleet  shoufd  be  withdrawn  the 
enemy  would  be  as  strong  as  ever,  and  that  only  a  regular  siege,  for 
which  he  was  not  prepared,  could  reduce  the  works.  He  therefore 
decided  to  withdraw  the  troops  to  the  transports  again.  This  he  did, 
and  the  next  morning  the  army  returned  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  war 
vessels  in  the  mean  time  remained,  keeping  up  a  slow  but  constant  fire, 
hoping  to  tire  out  the  enemy  or  to  dismount  their  guns. 

Unsuccessful  as  this  affair  proved,  there  was  not  lacking  an  exhibition 
of  bravery  and  coolness  on  the  part  of  all,  which  tended  to  insure  vic 
tory  in  the  next  assault  on  the  fort.  Commodore  Lanman  says  that  the 
conduct  of  the  Marines  on  the  Minnesota  was  entirely  satisfactory. 
Every  one  performed  his  duty  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability.  The  work 
ing  and  practice  of  the  guns  could  not  have  been  better.  Many  excel 
lent  shots  were  made,  and  in  this  respect  the  two  guns  worked  by  the 
Marines  were  equal  to  any  other  division.  Captain  Butler  of  the  Marines, 
commanding  his  battery,  being  upon  the  sheer-pole  of  the  mizzen 
rigging,  pronounced  the  practice  excellent.  Commodore  S.  W.  Godon, 
•commanding  the  Susquehanna,  says,  "  First  Lieutenant  William  Wal 
lace,  with  his  fine  company  of  Marines,  handled  most  effectively  two 
extra  p-inch  guns."  Similar  testimony  was  borne  by  other  naval  officers 
to  the  bravery  and  efficiency  of  the  Marines  on  the  various  vessels  con 
nected  with  the  fleet. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Corps  who  were 
engaged  in  this  affair :  On  board  the  Colorado,  Captain  L.  L.  Dawson 
and  First  Lieutenant  E.  P.  Meeker ;  Minnesota,  Captain  George  Butler 
and  Second  Lieutenant  George  M.  Welles;  Powhatan,  First  Lieutenant 
F.  H.  Corrie ;  New  Ironsides,  First  Lieutenant  Richard  S.  Collum  and 
Second  Lieutenant  Albert  B.  Young;  Susquehanna,  First  Lieutenant 
William  Wallace ;  Wabash,  First  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan ;  Vanderbilt, 
First  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Parker ;  Juniata,  Second  Lieutenant  Jones  Pile ; 
Brooklyn,  Captain  G.  P.  Houston ;  Ticonderoga,  First  Lieutenant  C. 
F.  Williams.  The  following  vessels  carried  sergeant's  guards :  San 
tiago  de  Cuba,  Fort  Jackson,  Shenandoah,  Tuscarora,  Rhode  Island, 
Mohican,  Keystone  State,  Malvern,  Onondaga,  Shamrock,  Chicko- 
pee,  Nereus,  Mendota,  losco,  Osceola,  Pawtuxet,  Mackinaw,  R.  R. 
Cuyler,  Mattabessett,  Massasoit,  Agawam,  Quaker  City,  Pontoosuc, 
Eutaw,  Mercedita,  and  Miami.  The  following  Marines  were  killed  and 
wounded  :  On  the  Juniata,  Second  Lieutenant  Jones  Pile,  killed,  and 
Private  William  Kennedy,  wounded ;  Ticonderoga,  Private  Cornelius 
•Collins,  wounded. 


1 66  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

The  following  is  the  report  irom  Admiral  Porter  announcing  the  result 

of  the  engagement : 

FLAG-SHIP  MALVERN, 

OFF  NEW  INLET,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  December  26,  1864. 

SIR, — I  have  the  honqr  to  forward  with  this  a  somewhat  detailed  report  of  the  two 
engagements  with  Fort  Fisher  and  the  surrounding  works. 

We  attacked  with  the  whole  fleet  on  the  24th  instant,  and  silenced  every  gun  in  a 
very  short  time. 

On  the  25th  instant  we  again  took  up  our  position,  within  a  mile  of  the  fort  (the 
iron  vessels  within  twelve  hundred  (1200)  yards),  without  a  shot  being  fired  at  us; 
shelled  it  all  day,  with  now  and  then  a  shot  from  the  rebels,  and  stopped  firing  after 
sunset. 

The  army  landed  and  re-embarked,  considering  it  impracticable  to  assault  the  place, 
I  shall  remain  here  and  keep  shelling  the  enemy's  works  on  every  occasion  whenever 
the  weather  will  permit. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  D.  PORTER, 

Re  a  r-Adm  iral. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  following  are  the  vessels  engaged  in  the  fight,  with  the  names  of 
of  their  commanders : 

Minnesota,  Commander  Joseph  Lanman ;  Mohican,  Commander  D. 
Ammen ;  Colorado,  Commander  H.  K.  Thatcher ;  Tuscarora,  Com 
mander  J.  M.  Frailey;  VVabash,  Captain  M.  Smith;  Susquehanna,  Com 
modore  S.  W.  Godon ;  Brooklyn,  Captain  James  Alden ;  Powhatan, 
Commodore  J.  F.  Schenck  ;  Juniata,  Captain  W.  R.  Taylor ;  Kansas, 
Lieutenant-Commander  P.  G.  Watmough;  Yantic,  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  T.  C.  Harris;  Maumee,  Lieutenant-Commander  R.  Chandler; 
Mackinaw,  Commander  J.  C.  Beaumont ;  Ticonderoga,  Captain  C, 
Steedman ;  Pawtuxet,  Commander  J.  H.  Spotts ;  Shenandoah,  Captain 
D.  B.  Ridgely;  Seneca,  Lieutenant-Commander  M.  Sicard ;  New  Iron 
sides,  Commodore  William  Radford  ;  Monadnock,  Commander  E.  G. 
Parrott ;  Canonicus,  Lieutenant-Commander  George  E.  Belknap;  Ma- 
hopac,  Lieutenant-Commander  E.  E.  Potter;  Saugus,  Commander  E. 
R.  Colhoun ;  Nyack,  Lieutenant-CommanderL.  H.  Newman  ;  Unadillar 
Lieutenant-Commander  F.  M.  Ramsay;  Huron,  Lieutenant-Commander 
T.  O.  Selfridge ;  Pequot,  Lieutenant-Commander  D.  L.  Braine;  Pon- 
toosuc,  Lieutenant-Commander  Wm.  G.  Temple ;  Nereus,  Commander 
J.  C.  Howell ;  Vanderbilt,  Captain  C.  W.  Pickering ;  Fort  Jackson, 
Captain  B.  F.  Sands ;  Santiago  de  Cuba,  Captain  O.  S.  Glisson ;  Tacony, 
Lieutenant-Commander  W.  T.  Truxtun ;  Osceola,  Commander  J.  M.  B. 
Clitz ;  Chippewa,  Lieutenant-Commander  A.  W.  Weaver ;  Sassacus, 
Lieutenant-Commander  J.  L.  Davis ;  Maratanza,  Lieutenant-Commander 
G.  W.  Young;  Rhode  Island,  Commander  S.  D.  Trenchard  ;  Mount 
Vernon,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  James  Trathen  ;  Britannia,  Acting 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  167 

Volunteer  Lieutenant  Samuel  Huse ;  Quaker  City,  Commander  W.  F. 
Spicer  ;  losco,  Commander  John  Guest ;  Howquah,  Acting  Volunteer 
Lieutenant  J.  W.  Balch  ;  Wilderness,  Acting  Master  H.  Arey;  Cherokee, 
Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  W.  E.  Dennison  ;  A.  D.  Vance,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  J.  H.  Upshur;  Moccasin,  Acting  Ensign  James  Brown  ; 
Gettysburg,  Lieutenant  R.  H.  Lamson ;  Alabama,  Acting  Volunteer 
Lieutenant  Frank  Smith ;  Keystone  State,  Commander  H.  Rolando ; 
Nansemond,  Acting  Master  John  H.  Porter;  Emma,  Acting  Volunteer 
Lieutenant  T.  C.  Dunn ;  Tristram  Shandy,  Acting  Ensign  Ben.  Wood ; 
Governor  Buckingham,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  J.  McDiarmid ; 
Little  Ada,  Acting  Master  S.  P.  Crafts. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

1864-65. — The  Civil  War,  IX. — Services  in  the  Pacific  Squadron — Marines  at  Boyd's 
Neck  and  Tulifinney  Cross- Roads — Second  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher — Its  Capture  by 
Porter  and  Terry — Occupation  of  Georgetown — Report  of  Admiral  Dahlgren. 

ON  the  pth  of  November,  1864,  Admiral  Pearson,  commanding  the 
Pacific  Squadron,  wrote  to  Commander  H.  K.  Davenport,  saying  that 
the  commander  of  the  American  steamer  Salvador  had  stated  that  among 
his  passengers  for  the  next  trip  from  Panama  were  a  number  of  desperate 
men,  bent  upon  taking  his  vessel  after  leaving  her  moorings.  Com 
mander  Davenport  was  directed  to  go  on  board  this  vessel  with  a  suffi 
cient  force,  and,  in  the  event  of  a  difficulty,  to  protect  the  passengers 
from  harm.  For  the  further  protection  of  the  vessel  and  passengers 
against  these  supposed  pirates,  Admiral  Pearson  stated  that  he  should  ac 
company  the  Salvador  to  sea  in  his  ship,  and,  should  any  pirates  be  found 
on  board,  the  commander  was  directed,  when  beyond  the  legal  jurisdic 
tion  of  the  government  of  New  Grenada,  to  capture  them  and  convey 
them  to  the  admiral's  ship.  On  the  morning  of  the  loth  the  com 
mander  left  his  ship  with  four  armed  boats,  and  went  alongside  the 
Pacific  Mail  Steamship's  steamer  Sacramento,  as  had  been  previously 
agreed  upon  with  the  master  of  the  steamer  Salvador.  He  subsequently 
overhauled  and  boarded  the  Salvador.  By  shrewd  management  his 
plan  was  entirely  successful,  and  he  captured  the  whole  party  without 
bloodshed.  In  his  report  of  the  affair,  Admiral  Pearson  spoke  in  the 
highest  terms  of  the  good  conduct  of  Captain  D.  M.  Cohen  of  the 
Marines. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  Admiral  Dahlgren  began  arrangements  for 
a  joint  army  and  Navy  movement,  co-operating  with  General  Foster  to 
establish  connection  with  General  Sherman.  A  brigade  from  the  fleet 


1 68  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

was  organized  under  the  command  of  Commander  George  H.  Prebley 
consisting  of  a  battalion  of  naval  artillery,  under  command  of  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  E.  O.  Mathews,  a  battalion  of  sailor  infantry,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  James  O'Kane,  and  a  battalion  of  Marines,  two- 
hundred  and  fifty  strong,  under  command  of  First  Lieutenant  G.  G. 
Stoddard. 

On  the  evening  of  the  28th  the  brigade  was  embarked  on  board  the 
Pontiac,  Sonoma,  and  Mingo. 

At  4.30  A.M.,  the  29th,  all  the  vessels  of  the  expedition  got  underway 
and  proceeded  up  the  Broad  River,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog.  At  8.30 
A.M.  the  brigade  landed  at  Boyd's  Landing,  and  was  immediately  pushed 
forward  on  the  road,  in  advance  of  the  military  forces,  about  two  miles. 

The  artillery  was  advanced  up  the  road,  with  the  battalion  of  Marines- 
and  sailor  infantry  deployed  to  the  right  and  left,  and  in  advance  as 
skirmishers.  After  skirmishing  through  the  swamps  and  woods  all  day,, 
the  command  went  into  camp  at  n  P.M.  at  the  first  fork. 

At  7  A.M.,  the  30th,  the  brigade  was  again  in  motion,  and  at  8  A.M. 
joined  the  army  at  the  church,  where  Brigadier-General  Hatch  had 
established  his  head-quarters. 

At  8.15  A.M.  the  army  moved  on  up  the  Grahamsville  road,  leading  to- 
the  right  of  the  church,  and  at  8.30  A.M.  the  enemy  opened  fire  upon 
the  head  of  our  column  from  a  movable  piece  of  rifled  artillery  placed 
in  the  road.  This  was  replied  to  by  one  i2-pounder  Napoleon;  a  skir 
mish  fire  of  musketry  ensued,  and  the  enemy  was  driven  back,  firing  as 
he  retreated.  As  the  head  of  our  column  reached  the  turn  of  the  roads 
at  Honey  Hill,  it  was  opened  on  by  a  battery  placed  in  position  behind 
a  stroog  earthwork.  A  sharp  and  stubbornly-contested  fight  ensued, 
which  lasted  until  sundown,  when  it  was  found  impossible  to  drive  the 
enemy  from  his  position  ;  our  troops  were  withdrawn  in  good  order. 
Our  total  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  amounted,  as  officially 
reported,  to  seven  hundred  and  forty. 

By  direction  of  Brigadier-General  Hatch  the  brigade  brought  up  the 
rear  of  the  column  on  the  march,  and  was  mostly  in  reserve  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action.  At  Meridian,  however,  the  Marine  battalion 
was  ordered  into  the  line  of  battle  on  the  right,  in  the  rear  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  was  continued  in  line  and  under  fire 
until  called  out,  by  order  from  the  general,  at  6  P.M. 

During  the  night  following  the  battle  our  artillery  took  up,  by  order,  a 
defensive  position  at  the  forks  of  the  road,  supported  by  the  infantry  of 
the  brigade  and  the  Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-fifth  regiments  of  colored 
troops. 

The  next  morning,  December  i,  the  brigade  was  ordered  into  a  position 
on  the  Grahamsville  road,  where  it  subsequently  intrenched  and  remained 
until  the  evening  of  the  5th,  when  it  was  withdrawn,  by  order  of  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  169 

general,  to  Boyd's  landing,  and  embarked  for  an  expedition  up  the 
Tulifinney. 

On  the  6th  a  successful  attack  was  made  on  the  enemy  near  the  mouth 
of  Tulifinney  Creek,  and  that  night  our  forces  camped  on  the  battle-field. 
During  the  night  a  skirmishing  fire  from  the  picket-line  drew  the  whole 
force  out  under  arms.  The  next  morning,  the  yth,  the  enemy  attacked 
our  skirmish  line  from  the  woods  in  front  and  to  the  right  of  our  line. 
Our  howitzers  firing  to  the  right  prevented  his  getting  around  on  that 
flank,  while  they  assisted  the  musketry  in  front  to  disperse  them.  In 
this  attack  the  enemy  fired  a  few  shots  from  a  battery  on  the  right  that 
had  not  before  been  heard  from.  In  this  affair  we  had  two  wounded. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  a  forward  movement  was  made,  and  the 
command  of  the  reserves  was  given  to  Commander  Preble,  consisting  of 
the  Thirty-second,  Thirty-fourth,  and  Thirty-fifth  United  States  Colored 
Infantry.  The  forces  being  in  position  at  9  A.M.,  the  artillery,  in  all  ten 
pieces,  army  and  Navy,  opened  a  rapid  fire  in  front  to  clear  the  woods, 
which  was  continued  ten  minutes.  On  its  ceasing,  the  skirmish-line, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Silliman,  and  consisting  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-seventh  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh  New  York  and 
the  Marine  battalion,  in  all  about  four  hundred  strong,  entered  the  woods 
in  front,  and  was  followed  by  the  main  line  of  battle,  consisting  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  and  Fifty-sixth  New  York,  and  One  Hundred 
and  Second  colored  regiments,  and  the  sailor  infantry.  This  line  was 
followed  by  and  designed  to  protect  the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio,  with  axes, 
who  had  orders  to  cut  a  road  one  hundred  feet  wide  through  the  woods, 
to  open  the  railroad  to  the  fire  of  our  batteries  on  the  right.  As  the 
troops  advanced  all  our  artillery  commenced  and  continued  to  shell  on 
the  right  and  left  flanks,  and  kept  up  the  fire  during  the  whole  advance, 
the  signal  of  recall  being  the  cessation  of  the  artillery  fire.  At  9.55  A.M. 
the  skirmish  firing  commenced,  and  the  musketry  was  continued  until 
near  sundown.  At  11.30  A.M.  the  Thirty-fourth  colored  regiment  of  there- 
serves  was  ordered  to  the  front  to  report  to  General  Potter.  At  3  P.M., 
the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  having  done  its  work,  the  artillery  fire  ceased.  At  4 
P.M.  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  New  York,  having  expended  all 
its  ammunition,  returned,  and  at  4.15  the  Thirty-second  colored  was 
ordered  to  the  front,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  New  York 
reported  to  Preble  and  took  its  place  in  the  intrenchment.  The  enemy 
throughout  the  day  continued  a  fire  of  grape,  shot,  and  shell  from  a  bat 
tery  on  the  right.  About  sundown  the  firing  on  both  sides  ceased,  and 
our  forces  were  withdrawn  in  good  order,  the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  having 
made  the  cutting  which  was  the  intent  of  the  attack.  Our  loss  in  the 
fleet-brigade  was  one  killed,  eighteen  wounded,  and  three  missing.  It  is 
needless  to  add  that  officers  and  men  behaved  with  gallantry  and  spirit. 
After  the  actions  on  Derang's  neck  of  the  6th,  yth,  and  9th  of  December 


170  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

no  forward  move  was  attempted,  and  the  brigade  remained  in  its  intrench- 
ments  near  Talbird's  house  until  permanently  withdrawn.  Two  of  the 
howitzers,  however,  were  posted  in  a  battery  at  the  front,  and  two  at  the 
3o-pounder  Parrott  battery  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  lines  for  its  support. 
On  the  i8th  and  i9th  two  rifled  howitzers,  which  had  been  brought  up  in 
place  of  the  two  light  howitzers  sent  to  the  rear,  were  placed  in  the 
swamp  battery,  and  opened  fire  upon  the  railroad  at  a  distance  of  eight 
hundred  yards,  doing  it  some  damage ;  the  enemy  did  not  return  the 
fire.  On  the  morning  of  the  26th  it  was  planned  for  Lieutenant  O'Kane, 
with  one  hundred  and  twenty  sailors  and  Marines,  to  take  the  two-gun 
battery  at  Dawson's  Point,  assaulting  it  in  flank ;  the  morning  proved 
very  rainy,  and  on  his  making  the  attempt  the  intervening  marsh  was 
found  to  be  impassable,  and  the  enterprise  was  reluctantly  abandoned. 
On  the  28th  the  brigade  embarked,  the  battalion  of  Marines  returning  to 
Bay  Point. 

Casualties  (in  action  at  Boyd's  Neck,  November  30,  1864). — Killed  : 
First  Sergeant  Philip  Napp,  Company  B.  Wounded :  Company  A, 
Privates  James  Walker  (mortally),  Patrick  Neilly,  and  Michael  Maloney ; 
Company  B,  Sergeant  Philip  Clancy,  Corporal  John  Young,  and  Private 
William  Wilson.  Missing:  Company  B,  Private  Robert  Joyce.  At 
Tulifinney  Cross-Roads,  December  6,  7,  and  9.  Wounded  :  Company  C, 
Sergeant  Edgar  Kermerer;  Company  B,  Private  Thomas  Mallen.  Miss 
ing:  Company  C,  Private  Charles  Brandt.  Wounded:  Company  A, 
Sergeant  R.  C.  Bates,  Private  James  Gorman  ;  Company  B,  Sergeant 
Christopher  Lutz,  acting  first  lieutenant,  mortally,  left  on  the  field, 
Privates  Robert  Kellon,  Thomas  Quinn,  and  William  Gordon  ;  Company 
C,  Corporal  William  McMurray.  Steamer  Donegal,  Private  P.  W.  Wood, 
drowned  December  10.  Company  C,  Privates  Bernard  Dyer  and  Man 
uel  de  Jesus. 

In  his  official  report,  Admiral  Dahlgren  said,  "I  desire  to  bring  First 
Lieutenant  Stoddard  to  the  notice  of  the  department.  He  did  good 
service  in  the  field  with  the  Marines  of  the  fleet  brigade  at  Boyd's  Neck 
and  the  Tulifinney,  and  now  has  the  command  of  the  largest  force  of 
Marines  that  has  been  collected  for  some  time.  He  has  always  acquitted 
himself  with  credit.  I  would  respectfully  suggest  a  brevet." 

On  the  29th  of  December  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  again  addressed 
General  Grant,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  President,  as  follows : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  December  29,  1864. 
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT,  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA  : 

The  substance  of  despatches  and  reports  from  Rear-Admiral  Porter,  off  Wilmington, 
is  briefly  this :  The  ships  can  approach  nearer  to  the  enemy's  works  than  was  antici 
pated.  Their  fire  can  keep  the  enemy  away  from  their  guns.  A  landing  can  easily 
be  effected  upon  the  beach  north  of  Fort  Fisher,  not  only  of  troops,  but  all  their  supplies 
and  artillery.  This  force  can  have  its  flanks  protected  by  gunboats.  The  Navy  can 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  171 

assist  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Fisher  precisely  as  it  covered  the  operations  which  resulted 
in  the  capture  of  Wagner.  The  winter,  also,  is  the  most  favorable  for  operations  against 
Fort  Fisher.  The  largest  naval  force  ever  assembled  is  ready  to  lend  its  co-operation. 

Rear-Admiral  Porter  will  remain  off  Fort  Fisher,  continuing  a  moderate  fire  to  pre 
vent  new  works  from  being  erected,  and  the  ironclads  have  proved  that  they  can 
maintain  themselves  in  spite  of  bad  weather.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  I  invite 
you  to  such  a  military  co-operation  as  will  insure  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  importance 
of  which  has  already  received  your  careful  consideration. 

This  telegram  is  made  at  the  suggestion  of  the  President,  and  in  hopes  that  you  will 
be  able  at  this  time  to  give  the  troops  which  heretofore  were  required  elsewhere.  If  it 
cannot  be  done  the  fleet  will  have  to  disperse,  whence  it  cannot  again  be  brought  to 
this  coast. 

GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Admiral  Porter  was  accordingly  informed  of  General  Grant's  intention 
in  the  following  despatch  : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  Saturday,  December  31,  1864. 

SIR, — Lieutenant-General  Grant  will  send  immediately  a  competent  force,  properly 
commanded,  to  co-operate  in  the  capture  of  the  defences  on  Federal  Point.  It  is  ex 
pected  that  the  troops  will  leave  Hampton  Roads  next  Monday  or  Tuesday.  This  is  all 
the  information  the  Department  has  to  give  you,  but  relies  upon  your  skill  and  judgment 
to  give  full  effect  to  any  move  that  may  be  arranged. 

The  Department  is  perfectly  satisfied  with  your  efforts  thus  far,  and  you  will  convey 
to  all  hands  the  satisfaction  the  Department  feels. 

I  am,  sir,  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  D.  D.  PORTER, 

Commanding  N.  A.  Blockading  Squadron,  off  Wilmington. 

Major-General  Terry  arrived  at  Beaufort  on  the  8th  of  January,  and  a 
new  plan  of  operations  was  arranged.  Two  days  of  stormy  weather 
succeeded,  but  on  the  i2th  every  preparation  had  been  made,  and  the 
vessels  got  under  way  once  more,  ranged  in  three  lines,  with  the  trans 
ports  in  company.  This  time  the  order  of  attack  was  different.  At 
3  A.M.,  on  the  i3th,  the  New  Ironsides,  Commodore  Radford,  leading 
the  monitors  Saugus,  Monadnoc,  Canonicus,  and  the  Mahopac,  moved 
towards  the  fort,  and  received  its  fire  unnoticed  until  they  reached  a 
position  within  a  thousand  yards  of  it,  when  they  opened  their  batteries 
and  a  sharp  fight  ensued. 

At  8.30  A.M.  a  signal  was  made  to  the  fleet  to  transport  to  land  the 
troops.  This  was  carried  on  so  rapidly  that  by  2  P.M.  eight  thousand 
men  were  all  ashore,  with  twelve  days'  provisions  and  their  intrenching 
tools.  Then  Porter  ordered  his  wooden  vessels  to  engage  in  the  conflict. 
The  bombardment  was  continuous  until  dark,  to  the  severe  damage  of 
the  armament  of  the  fort,  when  the  wooden  vessels  fell  back  to  their 
anchorage.  But  the  ironclads  fired  slowly  throughout  the  night,  by 
which  the  garrison  was  much  demoralized.  "By  sunset,"  says  Admiral 


I72  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Porter,  in  his  report,  "the  fort  was  reduced  to  a  pulp;  every  gun  was 
silenced  by  being  injured  or  covered  up  with  earth,  so  that  they  could 
not  work.  The  bombardment  continued  with  unremitting  vigor  through 
out  the  1 4th,  and  a  fire,  magnificent  alike  for  its  power  and  accuracy, 
demonstrated  the  efficiency  of  the  fleet. 

The  i5th  was  the  day  designated  for  the  grand  attack  by  sea  and  land. 
The  troops  by  this  time  were  rested,  after  their  long  confinement  on  ship 
board,  and  were  eager  for  the  attack.  At  9  A.M.  the  squadron  was 
signalled  by  Admiral  Porter  to  attack  in  three  lines,  and  about  eleven 
o'clock  they  were  all  in  position.  Each  had  opened  fire  as  they  took 
position  in  line,  and  the  bombardment  was  kept  up  furiously  all  day. 
At  first  the  rebels  replied  with  some  effect,  from  the  same  batteries  as 
before,  but  they  were  soon  driven  away  into  the  bomb-proofs.  Sixteen 
hundred  sailors  and  four  hundred  Marines  had  been  detailed  to  assist  in 
the  assault ;  they  were  to  attack  the  sea  face  of  the  fort,  while  the  soldiers 
assaulted  from  the  land  side.  By  three  o'clock  the  troops  were  all  in 
position,  and  the  signal  to  change  the  direction  of  the  fire  was  given, 
when  the  guns  were  turned  on  the  upper  batteries,  away  from  the  point 
where  the  assault  was  to  be  made. 

As  soon  as  the  army  was  found  to  be  in  motion,  the  men  from  the  fleet 
were  ordered  to  advance  also.  This  they  did  on  the  run,  along  the 
beach.  The  sailors,  being  armed  with  cutlasses  and  pistols,  were  ex 
pected  to  treat  the  fort  as  a  vessel,  and  board  it  with  a  dash.  Before  the 
assault  made  on  the  fort  by  the  Marines  and  seamen,  a  strong  force  with 
shovels  and  picks  threw  up  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  fort  a  well- 
protected  breastwork,  and  from  that  gradually  advanced  to  within  two 
hundred  yards  a  succession  of  rifle-pits,  which  were  most  promptly 
occupied  by  a  line  of  skirmishers  composed  of  Marines,  under  Second 
Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan.  One  sergeant  and  six  privates,  who  became 
detached  from  Lieutenant  Fagan's  guard  while  in  the  intrenchments  at 
the  front,  accompanied  the  army  in  the  storming  of  the  fort,  and  be 
haved  with  gallantry  and  coolness  during  the  hand-to-hand  conflict  that 
ensued.  In  his  report,  Lieutenant  Fagan  called  especial  attention  to  the 
conduct  of  Corporal  Tomlin,  who,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's 
sharp-shooters,  advanced  into  an  open  plane  close  to  the  fort,  and  assisted 
a  wounded  comrade  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  assaulting  party  was 
divided  into  four  lines,  the  first  line  being  composed  of  Marines  under 
Captain  L.  L.  Dawson.  The  Marines  were  divided  into  four  companies, 
under  command  of  Captain  Butler,  First  Lieutenant  Wallace,  First  Lieu 
tenant  Corrie,  and  First  Lieutenant  Parker,  giving  First  Lieutenant 
Williams  charge  of  some  twenty-five  skirmishers,  and  First  Lieutenant 
Meeker  acting  as  adjutant.  The  first  line  advanced  promptly  to  the  rifle- 
pits,  not  without  some  loss  to  officers  and  men.  The  second,  third, 
and  fourth  lines  advanced  rapidly  up  the  sea  face  of  Fort  Fisher,  and 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  173 

nearly  gained  the  parapet,  supported  by  the  fire  of  the  Marines.  The 
parapet  was,  however,  lined  with  one  dense  mass  of  the  enemy  who  had 
mistaken  this  for  the  main  assault,  and  the  advance  was  finally  brought  to  a 
halt.  The  men  evinced  great  determination  and  valor,  but  they  failed 
to  get  any  farther,  though  a  few  gained  the  parapet,  only  to  be  instantly 
swept  away.  The  attack  on  the  northeast  bastion,  however,  had  the 
effect  of  diverting  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  and  the  troops  assaulting 
met  with  less  opposition  until  a  lodgement  was  made  in  the  parapet  not 
far  from  the  river.  Now  commenced  the  terrible  struggle.  Up  to  this 
time  the  national  loss  had  been  comparatively  small,  for  the  Navy  had 
kept  the  garrison  quiet.  Now  it  was  compelled  to  cease  firing  at  that 
part  of  the  fort,  for  its  shells  would  be  as  hurtful  to  friends  as  to  foes. 
Instantly  the  garrison  sprang  to  its  guns,  and  musketeers  swarmed  upon 
the  parapet.  But  General  Curtis,  who  had  effected  a  lodgement  on  the 
parapet,  held  his  own  until  General  Pennypacker  came  to  his  support. 
The  latter  advanced  rapidly  to  General  Curtis's  right,  drove  the  Con 
federates  from  the  palisades,  extending  from  the  west  end  of  the  land 
face  of  the  fort  to  the  river,  and  captured  a  number  of  prisoners.  The 
brigade  broke  through  the  palisades  and  joined  General  Curtis. 

The  Confederates  used  the  huge  traverses  of  the  land  front  for  breast 
works,  and  over  the  tops  of  these  the  combatants  fired  in  each  other's 
faces,  while  the  fleet  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  farther  to  the  southward, 
to  prevent  reinforcements  reaching  the  fort  from  the  Mound  Battery,  or 
Battery  Buchanan.  The  struggle  was  desperate.  The  Confederates  were 
steadily  pushed  back,  until,  at  dusk,  they  had  lost  nine  of  these  traverses. 
At  six  o'clock  Abbot  entered  the  fort  with  his  little  brigade,  and  at  9.30 
o'clock,  when  two  more  traverses  had  been  carried,  the  contest  ceased. 
Two  thousand  and  eighty-three  prisoners  were  captured. 

Admiral  Porter  immediately  sent  the  following  despatch : 

FROM  OFF  FORT  FISHER,  January  15,  1865. 

SIR, — Fort  Fisher  is  ours.  I  send  you  a  bearer  of  despatches  with  a  brief  account  of 
the  affair. 

General  Terry  is  entitled  to  the  highest  praise  and  gratitude  of  his  country  for  the 
manner  in  which  he  has  conducted  his  part  of  the  operations.  He  is  my  beau  ideal  of 
a  soldier  and  a  general.  Our  co-operation  has  been  most  cordial.  The  result  is  victory, 
which  will  always  be  ours  when  the  army  and  Navy  go  hand  in  hand.  The  Navy  loss 
in  the  assault  was  heavy.  The  army  loss  is  also  heavy. 

D.  D.  PORTER, 

Rear- Admiral. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy, 

The  following  vessels  composed  the  fleet  in  the  second  attack : 
Ironclad  division :    New    Ironsides,   Commodore    William   Radford ; 
Saugus,  Commander  E.  R.  Calhoun  ;   Canonicus,  Lieutenant-Commander 


1 74  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

George  E.  Belknap  ;  Mahopac,  Lieutenant-Commander  A.  W.  Weaver ; 
Monadnock,  Commander  E.  G.  Parrott. 

Line  No.  i,  Brooklyn,  Captain  James  Alden,  leading,  consisted  of  the 
Mohican,  Commander  Daniel  Ammen ;  Tacony,  Lieutenant-Commander 
W.  T.  Truxtun ;  Kansas,  Lieutenant-Commander  P.  G.  Watmough ; 
Yantic,  Lieutenant-Commander  T.  C.  Harris;  Unadilla,  Lieutenant- 
Commander  F.  M.  Ramsay;  Huron,  Lieutenant- Commander  T.  O.  Sel- 
fridge ;  Maumee,  Lieutenant-Commander  Ralph  Chandler ;  Pequot, 
Lieutenant-Commander  D.  L.  Braine;  Pawtuxet,  Commander  J.  H. 
Spotts;  Seneca,  Lieutenant-Commander  M.  Sicard ;  Pontoosuc,  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  W.  G.  Temple ;  Nereus,  Commander  J.  C.  Howell. 

Line  No.  2,  Minnesota,  Commodore  Joseph  Lanman,  leading,  con 
sisted  of  the  Colorado,  Commodore  H.  K.  Thatcher;  Wabash,  Captain 
M.  Smith  ;  Susquehanna,  Commodore  S.  W.  Godon  ;  Powhatan,  Com 
modore  J.  F.  Schenck  ;  Juniata,  Lieutenant  Commander  T.  S.  Phelps; 
Shenandoah,  Captain  D.  B.  Ridgley ;  Ticonderoga,  Captain  Charles 
Steedman  ;  Vanderbilt,  Captain  C.  W.  Pickering;  Mackinaw,  Commander 
J.  C.  Beaumont;  Tuscarora,  Commander  J.  M.  Frailey. 

Line  No.  3,  Santiago  de  Cuba,  Captain  O.  S.  Glisson,  leading,  con 
sisted  of  the  Fort  Jackson,  Captain  B.  F.  Sands;  Osceola,  Commander 
J.  M.  B.  Clitz ;  Sassacus,  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  L.  Davis;  Chippewa, 
Lieutenant-Commander  E.  E.  Potter  ;  R.  R.  Cuyler,  Commander  C.  H. 
B.  Caldwell ;  Maratanza,  Lieutenant-Commander  George  W.  Young ; 
Rhode  Island,  Commander  S.  D.  Trenchard  ;  Monticello,  Lieutenant  W. 
B.  Gushing  ;  Alabama,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  A.  R.  Langthorne ; 
Montgomery,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  T.  C.  Dunn  ;  losco,  Com 
mander  John  Guest. 

The  reserve  division,  under  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  H.  Upshur,  in 
the  A.  D.  Vance,  consisted  of  the  Britannia,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant 
W.  A.  Sheldon  ;  Tristam  Shandy,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  F.  M. 
Green;  Lillian,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  T.  A.  Harris;  Fort 
Donelson,  Acting  Master  G.  W.  Frost ;  Wilderness,  Acting  Master  H. 
Arey;  Aries,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  F.  S.  Wells;  Governor 
Buckingham,  Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant  J.  McDiarmid  ;  the  Nanse- 
monde,  Acting  Master  J.  H.  Porter ;  Little  Ada,  Acting  Master  S.  P. 
Crafts ;  Eolus,  Acting  Master  E.  S.  Keyser,  and  Republic,  Acting  Ensign 
J.  W.  Bennett,  being  used  as  despatch  vessels. 

The  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  rendered  all  the  other  works  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Cape  Fear  River  untenable,  and  during  the  nights  of  the  i6th  and 
1 7th  the  Confederates  blew  up  Fort  Caswell,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
river.  They  also  abandoned  Battery  Holmes,  on  Smith's  Island,  and 
their  extensive  works  at  Smithville  and  Reeves'  Point,  and  fled  towards 
Wilmington. 

The  triumph  of  the  army  and  Navy  was  now  complete. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  175 

The  army  lost  in  the  attack  six  hundred  and  eighty-one  men,  of  whom, 
eighty-eight  were  killed,  five  hundred  wounded,  and  twenty-two  missing. 
Among  the  wounded  were  General  Bell,  mortally,  and  Generals  Curtis 
and  Pennypacker,  severely.  On  the  morning  after  the  victory,  while  the 
exultant  soldiers,  sailors,  and  Marines  were  swarming  into  the  fort, 
its  principal  magazine,  buried  deep  in  the  earth,  at  the  centre  of  the 
parade,  exploded,  killing  two  hundred  and  wounding  one  hundred  men. 

The  fleet  lost  about  three  hundred  men  during  the  action,  among 
whom  were  the  gallant  Lieutenants  Preston  and  Porter.  During  the 
bombardment  about  fifty  thousand  shells  were  expended,  and  during  the 
first  attack  about  eighteen  thousand. 

Major-General  Terry,  in  his  official  report  of  the  engagement,  says, 
"I  should  signally  fail  to  do  my  duty  were  I  to  omit  to  speak  in  terms 
of  the  highest  admiration  of  the  part  borne  by  the  Navy  in  our  operations. 
In  all  ranks,  from  Admiral  Porter  to  his  seamen,  there  was  the  utmost 
desire  not  only  to  do  their  proper  work,  but  to  facilitate  in  every  possible 
manner  the  operations  of  the  land  forces.  To  him,  and  to  the  untiring 
efforts  of  his  officers  and  men,  we  are  indebted  that  our  men,  stores, 
tools,  and  ammunition  were  safely  and  expeditiously  landed,  and  that  our 
wounded  and  prisoners  were  embarked  for  transportation  to  the  North  \ 
to  the  great  accuracy  and  power  of  their  fire  it  is  owing  that  we  had  not 
to  confront  a  formidable  artillery  in  the  assault,  and  that  we  were  able, 
with  but  little  loss,  to  push  forward  the  men,  preparatory  to  it,  to  a  point 
nearly  as  favorable  for  it  as  the  one  they  would  have  occupied  had  siege 
operations  been  undertaken  and  the  work  systematically  approached. 
The  assault  of  the  sailors  and  Marines,  although  it  failed,  undoubtedly 
contributed  somewhat  to  our  success,  and  certainly  nothing  could  surpass 
the  perfect  skill  with  which  the  fleet  was  handled  by  its  commander." 

After  the  engagement,  five  officers  of  the  Corps  were  recommended 
for  gallantry  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  by  Admiral  Porter, — viz.,  Captains 
L.  L.  Dawson  and  George  Butler,  and  First  Lieutenants  William'Wallace, 
Charles  F.  Williams,  and  Louis  E.  Fagan. 

Lieutenant-Commander  Parker,  in  his  report  to  Admiral  Porter, 
mentions  Captain  George  Butler  and  Lieutenant  William  Wallace  as 
being  at  the  front.  Commodore  S.  W.  Godon,  commanding  the  Sus- 
quehanna,  said,  "Lieutenant  Wallace  was  wounded  severely  in  the 
charge  on  the  fort.  I  particularly  regret  the  injury  to  this  officer,  as  he 
cannot  well  be  replaced  by  his  Corps  in  the  affections  of  this  ship." 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  report  of  Fleet  Captain  K.  R.  Breese  : 
"I  wish  to  bear  witness  to  the  handsome  manner  in  which  Lieutenant 
Fagan  of  the  Marine  Corps  did  his  duty  with  his  sharp-shooters,  and  to 
the  gallantry  he  exhibited  in  advancing  his  men  so  close  to  the  enemy's 
works."  Lieutenant-Commander  F.  B.  Blake,  of  the  Susquehanna,  says, 
"  We  had  fourteen  wounded  ;  among  them,  I  regret  to  state,  Lieutenant 


176  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Wallace,  whose  gallantry  was  conspicuous,  especially  in  his  efforts  to 
rally  his  men."  The  bravery  and  efficient  service  of  the  present  Captain 
Porter,  son  of  the  admiral,  who  at  the  time  held  a  clerkship,  won  for  him 
a  commission  in  the  Marines.  The  reports  of  the  officers  of  the  various 
vessels  bear  testimony  to  the  nature  of  the  services  rendered  by  those 
Marines  who  did  not  land.  Commodore  J.  F.  Schenck,  commanding 
the  Powhatan,  said,  "It  is  due  to  the  Marines  of  this  ship,  and  to  their 
commander,  First  Lieutenant  F.  H.  Corrie,  that  the  utmost  alacrity 
and  cheerfulness  was  shown  in  the  performance  of  their  duty." 

The  list  of  officers  of  the  Corps  attached  to  vessels  in  this  engagement 
was  as  follows  :  Colorado,  Captain  L.  L.  Dawson  and  First  Lieutenant 
E.  P.  Meeker;  Minnesota,  Captain  George  Butler;  Brooklyn,  Captain 
G.  P.  Houston;  Vanderbilt,  First  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Parker;  Powhatan, 
First  Lieutenant  F.  H.  Corrie  ;  New  Ironsides,  First  Lieutenant  R.  S. 
Collum  and  Second  Lieutenant  A.  B.  Young;  Susquehanna,  First  Lieu 
tenant  William  Wallace;  Ticonderoga,  First  Lieutenant  C.  F.  Williams; 
Wabash,  First  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan.  The  following  is  the  list  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  and  missing:  From  the  Colorado,  killed  in  the 
assault,  Privates  Andrew  Munn,  William  Thomas,  and  Patrick  Caine; 
wounded  in  the  assault,  Sergeant  Daniel  Kelley.  Minnesota,  killed  in 
the  assault,  Privates  Daniel  O'Neil  and  William  Burke;  wounded  in  the 
assault,  Corporal  Thomas  O'Leary,  Privates  Joseph  Simmerman,  John 
Calhoun,  Edward  O'Brien,  William  Duggan,  and  Nathaniel  O'Donnell. 
Powhatan,  missing,  Corporal  Rulon,  Musician  Bourke ;  Privates  Benson, 
Wasmuth,  Hicks,  and  O'Brien,  2d ;  wounded  in  the  assault,  Corporal 
Abijah  Ball,  Privates  Owen  Daly,  James  Conan,  James  Casgriff,  Patrick 
O'Donnel,  Will  Kegsl,  and  Frank  Alick.  Susquehanna,  killed  in  the 
assault,  Privates  Thomas  Brennan,  N.  S.  Minkoff ;  wounded  in  the  assault, 
First  Lieutenant  William  Wallace,  Corporal  White  Henlett,  and  Private 
John  Costello.  Santiago  de  Cuba,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Privates 
James  Sherry,  Charles  McCarty,  and  John  Mahan.  Wabash,  wounded 

in  the  assault,  Privates  William  Daly  (since  dead),  Esek  Bailey,  and 

Moran  ;  Privates  George  Brown  and Scanlan,  by  explosion  of  mag 
azine  in  Fort  Fisher.  Shenandoah,  killed  in  the  assault,  Private  Charles 
Jones.  Ticonderoga,  killed  by  explosion  in  Fort  Fisher,  Private  Charles 
Colcord.  Brooklyn,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Private  James  Jackson. 
Tuscarora,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Corporal  A.  Collum  and  Private 
J.  B.  Jenkins.  Rhode  Island,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Private  John  Daisy. 
Mohican,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Sergeant  Oscar  Smith,  Corporal  John 
Graham,  Privates  John  L.  Russell,  Stephen  Moore,  and  by  the  explosion 
in  Fort  Fisher,  Privates  William  F.  Ryan  and  Richard  Broderick.  Osce- 
ola,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Private  William  Williams.  Juniata,  killed  in 
the  assault,  Private  Edward  Brennan  ;  wounded,  Private  John  Redden. 
Maratanza,  wounded  in  the  assault,  Private  Charles  Sullivan. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  177 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Marines  who  received  honorable  mention : 
On  the  Ticonderoga,  Orderly  Sergeant  Isaac  N.  Fry,  "recommended  for 
coolness,  good  conduct,  and  skill  as  captain  of  a  gun;"  Shenandoah, 
Privates  Charles  Smith,  Adolph  Burton,  Wilmer  D.  Lyne,  James  Whyte, 
and  Thomas  S.  Brown,  mentioned  "for  gallant  conduct  in  the  assault;" 
Minnesota,  Corporal  John  Rannahan  and  Privates  John  Shivers  and 
Henry  Thompson  "  behaved  bravely." 

The  capture  of  Fort  Fisher  by  the  combined  efforts  of  the  army  and 
Navy,  under  those  gallant  and  distinguished  officers,  Porter  and  Terry, 
gave  the  liveliest  satisfaction  to  the  loyal  people,  for  it  seemed  like  a 
sure  prophecy  of  peace  nigh  at  hand.  All  the  participants  in  the  contest 
were  regarded  with  gratitude  and  honored  everywhere.  When  the 
Ticonderoga,  Captain  Steedman,  and  the  Shenandoah,  Captain  Ridgley, 
of  Admiral  Porter's  fleet,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  a  pleasing  incident  in 
illustration  of  the  public  feeling  occurred. 

The  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  both  vessels  were  invited  to  dine 
at  the  Soldiers'  Reading-Room,  which  was  under  the  immediate  manage 
ment  of  Miss  McHenry,  a  lady  well  and  widely  known  by  her  acts  of 
benevolence  and  patriotism.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  An  elegantly- 
arranged  and  sumptuous  dinner  was  prepared,  and  a  military  band  was  in 
attendance.  After  dinner  one  of  the  men  of  the  Shenandoah  presented 
to  the  ladies  two  flags,  one  of  which  was  shot  from  the  mast-head  of  his 
ship  during  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher. 

The  following  despatch  from  Admiral  Dahlgren,  dated  on  board  the 
flag-ship  Harvest  Moon,  Rebellion  Roads,  Harbor  of  Charleston,  Feb 
ruary  1 8,  shows  the  progress  made  up  to  that  date:  "Charleston  was 
abandoned  this  morning  by  the  rebels.  I  am  now  on  my  way  to  the 
city."  On  the  26th  of  February,  Admiral  Dahlgren  reported  to  the 
Department  an  important  result  of  the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged, — 
the  occupation  of  Georgetown,  South  Carolina;  that  town  and  its  de 
fences  having  been  occupied  by  the  forces  under  his  command.  The 
town  was  held  by  six  companies  of  Marines,  under  Lieutenant  Stoddard, 
and  the  battery,  fifteen  guns,  by  one  company  of  Marines,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Breese.  First  Lieutenant  Charles  F.  Williams,  of  the  Marines, 
was  ordered  to  the  battalion  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Stoddard, 
and  remained  on  duty  with  it  during  the  occupation  of  Georgetown. 

The  following  officers  of  the  Corps  were  attached  to  this  squadron 
during  the  year  1864,  and  part  of  1865  :  First  Lieutenant  George  G. 
Stoddard,  First  Lieutenant  Charles  F.  Williams,  and  Second  Lieutenant 
James  B.  Breese ;  in  the  East  Gulf  Squadron,  during  the  same  time,  First 
Lieutenant  Eugene  A.  Smalley;  West  Gulf  Squadron,  Second  Lieutenant 
C.  L.  Sherman. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  final  disposition  of  the  remains  of 
the  gallant  Bradford : 


IpS  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

REMOVAL  OF  THE   REMAINS  OF   LIEUTENANT  BRADFORD,  UNITED 
STATES  MARINES,  FROM  POTTER'S  FIELD. 

REPORT  OF  REAR-ADMIRAL  J.  A.  DAHLGREN. 

FLAG-STEAMER  PHILADELPHIA, 
CHARLESTON  HARBOR,  March  17,  1865. 

SIR, — I  have  just  caused  the  remains  of  Lieutenant  Bradford  (United  States  Marines) 
to  be  restored  to  the  cemetery  wherein  they  were  first  deposited.  He  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Sumter,  September  8,  1863,  and  taken  prisoner.  After 
death,  Dr.  Mackey,  of  Charleston,  had  the  body  interred  in  the  Magnolia  Cemetery, 
but  when  it  became  known,  so  much  excitement  was  manifested  that  it  was  found  neces 
sary  to  remove  it  and  place  it  in  the  Potter's  field.  As  soon  as  the  public  service  would 
permit,  I  took  the  necessary  measures  to  reverse  the  savage  and  disgraceful  act  of  the 
rebel  community.  The  body  was  taken  to  St.  Paul's,  where  service  and  a  sermon  were 
gone  through  by  Chaplain  Blake,  United  States  Navy ;  then  taken  back  to  Magnolia 
Cemetery,  and  there  reinterred  with  all  the  honor  due  to  the  memory  of  a  gallant  officer 
who  had  fallen  in  the  cause  of  his  country.  I  was  present,  also  General  Hatch,  and 
many  officers  of  the  army  and  Navy.  A  detachment  of  United  States  infantry  attended, 
a  detachment  of  seamen  from  the  ships,  the  escort  being  Marines.  I  have  to  thank  Gen 
eral  Hatch  for  the  promptness  and  courtesy  with  which  means  were  supplied  for  the 
occasion. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  A.  DAHLGREN, 

Rear- Admiral,  Coni'dg  S.  A.  B.  Squadron. 
HON.  GIDEON  WELLES, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

1865. — Assassination  of  the  President — The  Arrest  of  Semmes. 

ON  the  i5th  of  April,  the  day  of  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  and 
for  several  days  afterwards,  the  wildest  rumors  were  circulated  in  the 
city  of  Washington;  the  sentinels  at  the  various  posts  were  doubled,  but 
the  indefatigable  and  untiring  energy  of  General  Augur  brought  order 
out  of  chaos  and  allayed  the  fears  of  the  timid  citizens. 

The  guard  at  the  Navy-Yard  gate,  under  the  temporary  command  of 
First  Lieutenant  R.  S.  Collum,  was  strengthened,  sentinels  were  doubled, 
and  two  monitors,  the  Saugus  and  the  Montauk,  were  moored  at  the 
Navy-Yard  wharf,  head  and  stern,  upon  which  a  strong  attachment  of 
Marines  were  stationed  under  the  command  of  Captain  F.  Munroe, 
with  Lieutenants  J.  M.  T.  Young,  D.  P.  Mannix,  E.  R.  Miller,  and  H. 
Bigelow  as  his  subordinates,  to  provide  for  contingencies.  The  authori 
ties  had  determined  to  confine  those  who  might  be  arrested  as  suspects, 
in  connection  with  the  assassination  and  great  conspiracy,  on  board  the 
monitors  named. 

The  first  man  arrested  was  Paine,  who  was  brought  at  midnight  to  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  179 

Navy-Yard  in  a  closed  carriage.  He  was  received  at  the  gate  from  the 
detectives,  and  transferred  to  the  monitor,  where  he  was  confined  in 
double  irons,  in  a  cell  closely  guarded.  The  next  one  received  was 
Azterodt;  then  came  Spangler,  Arnold,  O'Laughlin,  Dr.  Mudd,  and  a 
Portuguese,  whose  name  cannot  now  be  recalled.  Finally  Harold  was 
brought  in  with  Booth's  body,  and  all  of  the  prisoners  were  guarded  by 
the  Marines  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Surrat. 

Paine,  in  the  extremity  of  his  despair,  attempted  suicide  by  beating 
his  head  against  the  iron  walls  of  his  cell.  To  prevent  any  future  at 
tempt,  a  padded  hood  was  constructed  which  completely  covered  his 
head,  leaving  nothing  but  his  mouth  and  nostrils  exposed,  and  secured 
under  his  chin  by  a  throat-latch  securely  locked.  The  other  conspira 
tors  were  secured  in  the  same  manner.  These  men  were  kept  on  the 
monitors  for  a  period  of  a  week  after  the  autopsy  on  Booth's  body,  and 
were  then  transferred  to  the  arsenal. 

After  their  arrival  at  the  arsenal  the  Portuguese  was  released. 

Booth's  body  was  brought  to  the  Navy-Yard,  and  placed  upon  a  car 
penter's  bench  on  the  monitor  Montauk,  securely  guarded.  Visitors 
were  excluded,  no  one  being  permitted  to  enter  except  with  a  pass 
signed  jointly  by  the  Secretaries  of  War  and  Navy.  An  autopsy  was 
performed  upon  the  body  of  Booth  by  distinguished  medical  officers  of 
the  army  and  Navy,  and  Dr.  May,  an  eminent  civilian,  in  the  presence 
of  other  officials ;  also  in  the  presence  of  Colonel  Baker. 

It  now  became  a  question  with  the  authorities  how  to  dispose  of  the 
body.  It  was  at  first  determined  to  place  the  remains  in  the  hands  of 
Colonel  Baker,  with  orders  to  sink  it  at  sea  ;  this  idea  was  abandoned  at 
the  eleventh  hour,  and  at  midnight,  after  the  autopsy  was  performed, 
the  body  was  delivered  to  Baker.  He  conveyed  it  to  the  old  penitentiary 
in  the  arsenal  grounds,  where  it  was  buried  in  a  cell.  Subsequently  it 
was  removed  and  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows  with  the  other  male 
factors  who  were  executed.  Some  years  afterwards,  Edwin  Booth,  who 
was  always  known  as  a  loyal  man,  and  who  went  into  dignified  retire 
ment  after  the  tragedy,  requested  permission  from  the  government  to 
remove  his  brother's  remains.  This  request  was  granted,  and  the  dust  of 
John  Wilkes  Booth  reposes  in  the  family  lot  in  a  cemetery  in  Baltimore. 

About  the  ist  of  December,  1865,  on  returning  to  his  station  at 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  from  which  he  had  been  absent  a  few  days, 
Lieutenant  L.  P.  French  of  the  Marines  found  a  telegram  awaiting  him, 
directing  him  "  to  report  in  person,  without  a  moment's  delay,  to  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Navy."  He  lost  no  time  in  complying  with  this  mysterious 
summons,  which  had  created  no  little  excitement  among  the  officers  at  the 
yard,  and  on  arrival  at  Washington  he  found  much  curiosity  aroused  among 
the  officers  there  in  regard  to  the  matter.  He  was  soon  ordered,  under  in 
junctions  of  the  strictest  secrecy,  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  to  pre- 


1 80  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

pare  at  once  to  find  and  arrest  Raphael  Semmes,  the  commander  of  the 
Alabama.  He  was  directed  to  select  a  sufficient  force  from  the  non 
commissioned  officers  of  the  Corps  to  accompany  him,  to  give  all  neces 
sary  aid  and  protection.  After  making  a  suitable  selection,  he  reported 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  as  ready  for  final  instructions.  The  Sec 
retary  gave  him  an  order  to  proceed  to  Vicksburg  or  elsewhere,  wher 
ever  he  might  find  Semmes,  and  return  with  him  to  Washington.  On 
receiving  this  order,  the  question  arose  as  to  whether  it  was  not  in  excess 
of  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  as  Semmes  was  no  longer 
a  naval  officer,  and  if  upon  land  in  the  locality  where  he  was  supposed 
to  be,  he  was  under  military  jurisdiction ;  especially  as  he  had  been 
paroled  as  a  brigadier-general  of  the  Confederate  service.  The  order 
was,  therefore,  taken  to  Mr.  Stanton,  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  by  him 
endorsed  as  follows:  "All  officers  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  War 
Department  will  render  Lieutenant  French  whatever  aid  he  may  deem 
necessary  to  execute  the  within  order.  (Signed)  Edwin  M.  Stanton, 
Secretary  of  War." 

Equipped  with  this  order,  and  with  charges  and  specifications  duly  set 
ting  forth  the  offences  for  which  it  was  proposed  to  try  Semmes,  Lieu 
tenant  French  proceeded  as  directed.  On  reaching  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
he  was  led  to  believe  that  Semmes  was  not  at  Vicksburg.  He,  however, 
proceeded  down  the  Mississippi,  stopping  at  Memphis,  where  his  views 
were  confirmed,  and  upon  going  to  Vicksburg,  he  found  that  Semmes  had 
not  been  there  for  several  months,  nor  could  he  gain  any  tidings  of  him. 
He  continued  on  down  the  river,  but  learned  nothing  of  Semmes's  where 
abouts  until  he  reached  New  Orleans.  There  he  met  Major  Lovell,  the 
efficient  provost  marshal  general  on  General  Canby's  staff.  It  was  learned 
from  him  that  Semmes  had  been  in  New  Orleans  a  few  weeks  before,  and 
had  gone,  as  was  thought,  to  Mobile,  where  it  was  understood  his  family 
resided.  French  proceeded  directly  to  that  place,  and  a  few  moments 
after  leaving  the  steamer  met  the  object  of  his  search  in  the  street.  Al 
though  he  had  never  seen  Semmes  before,  no  one  who  had  ever  seen  his 
photograph  could  possibly  mistake  him.  As  he  had  not  announced  his 
arrival  or  the  object  of  his  mission  to  the  military  authority  of  the  place, 
he  deferred  making  the  arrest  until  he  had  conferred  with  the  officer  in 
command.  He  soon  had  reason  to  regret  this  delay,  for,  although  he 
made  all  haste  to  report  himself  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  De 
partment,  and  to  acquaint  him  with  the  purpose  of  the  visit,  during  the 
time  thus  occupied  Semmes  left  the  city,  as  he  was  doubtless  about  to  do 
when  the  lieutenant  met  him.  Lieutenant  French  had  been  thrown  off 
his  guard  in  this  particular  by  being  informed,  very  positively,  that 
Semmes's  home  was  in  the  city.  But  it  was  found  that  he  resided  some 
miles  out  of  town.  Lieutenant  French  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find 
that  few  even  of  the  army  officers  seemed  at  all  familiar  with  the  history 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 8 1 

of  Semmes,  or  the  fact  that  he  had  played  a  very  conspicuous  part  in  the 
great  war  drama  just  at  its  close. 

After  availing  himself  of  every  means  of  information  that  could  be 
obtained  in  the  city  of  Mobile,  he  became  satisfied  that  the  Spring  Hill 
road,  where  it  was  said  Semmes  lived,  was  not  honored  by  the  residence 
of  that  distinguished  individual.  Fearing  that  to  delay  and  await  his 
return  might  put  further  off  his  arrest,  French  determined  to  find  him 
that  night,  if  possible.  It  was  2.30  P.M.  when  he  arrived  in  Mobile,  but, 
although  he  did  not  allow  himself  a  moment  for  refreshment,  darkness 
had  already  set  in.  The  force  to  be  taken  with  him  was  left  to  his  dis 
cretion,  and  he  took  a  guard  of  about  thirty  men,  and  ordered  three  car 
riages,  in  one  of  which  were  two  sergeants,  who  had  accompanied  him 
from  Washington,  and  a  detective.  He  was  not  long  in  discovering  that 
the  information  which  the  detective  furnished  "sprang  from  an  over- 
vivid  imagination."  He  therefore  reduced  the  otherwise  useless  indi 
vidual  to  the  rank  of  driver,  and  substituted  an  intelligent  contraband  in 
his  place.  After  driving  out  on  the  road  referred  to,  and  making  many 
inquiries,  a  man  was  finally  found  who  had  heard  of  this  noted  priva- 
teersman.  He  informed  Lieutenant  French  that  Semmes  resided  some 
six  or  seven  miles  out  of  the  city,  on  the  Durham  road.  To  reach  this 
road  they  had  to  retrace  their  steps  some  two  miles  to  a  cross-road,  and 
by  a  circuitous  route  the  Durham  road  was  finally  reached.  The  night 
was  cloudy  and  the  darkness  intense,  and,  as  the  military  authorities  at 
Mobile  were  under  the  impression  that  the  country  round  about  the  city 
was  still  infested  by  guerillas,  the  guard  that  accompanied  the  expedition 
felt  a  good  deal  of  trepidation.  Following  the  direction  of  the  new 
found  guide,  Lieutenant  French  proceeded  along  the  road  some  two  or 
three  miles,  and  ^finally  reached  a  gate  at  the  foot  of  an  avenue  leading 
to  the  house  where  Semmes  lived. 

Taking  the  contraband  and  the  two  sergeants  of  Marines  with  him, 
French  groped  his  way  up  the  dark  avenue,  some  sixty  rods,  to  the  house. 
He  rapped  at  the  door,  and  a  little  girl,  some  twelve  or  fourteen  years 
of  age,  opened  it.  He  inquired  if  Captain  Semmes  was  at  home.  She 
answered  that  he  was,  when  French  turned  to  the  colored  man  and  told 
him  to  go  down  to  the  carriages  and  send  up  the  guard.  The  little  girl 
was  alarmed  at  seeing  the  men ;  she  hastily  shut  the  door,  and  ran 
through  the  hall.  Lieutenant  French  quickly  opened  the  door,  and  saw 
her  enter  a  door  at  the  end  of  the  hall.  Presuming  that  she  ran  directly 
to  her  father,  he  approached  the  door  and  knocked,  and  was  greeted  by 
a  gruff  voice,  telling  him  to  come  in. 

On  entering  the  room  he  recognized  Semmes.  Introducing  himself, 
he  said,  "I  am  Lieutenant  French  of  the  Marine  Corps,  and  I  am  here, 
by  orders  of  the  Navy  Department,  to  present  you  with  this  order," 
handing  him  the  order  for  his  arrest. 


1 82  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Semmes  took  it  with  evident  astonishment,  and,  seating  himself  by  a 
table,  scanned  the  document  with  the  greatest  interest.  After  deliber 
ating  for  a  few  minutes,  he  turned  to  French,  and,  in  a  contemptuous 
manner,  said,  "Well,  sir,  what  are  your  orders  in  the  premises?" 
French  replied,  "For  you  to  get  ready  to  start  for  Mobile  with  me  in 
five  minutes."  Semmes  rose  from  his  seat  and  demanded  to  know  if 
General  Woods,  the  general  in  command  of  the  Department,  knew  of 
this  "outrage"  being  perpetrated.  French  asked,  "What  outrage?" 
He  said,  "Tearing  me  from  the  bosom  of  my  family  in  this  summary 
and  violent  manner."  French  replied,  "I  know  of  no  one  more 
familiar  with  summary  proceedings  than  yourself,  and,  although  General 
Woods  has  been  informed  that  you  are  to  be  arrested,  it  could  make  no- 
difference ;  my  orders,  as  you  have  seen,  are  from  a  higher  authority." 

At  this  moment  Semmes's  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  three  grown 
daughters,  a  son  twenty- five  years  of  age,  and  the  little  girl,  rushed  into 
the  room,  the  ladies  much  agitated.  The  lieutenant  began  to  reassure 
them,  when  Semmes  ordered  his  family  all  out  of  the  room,  and  com 
manded  them  to  be  quiet.  Not  knowing  but  that  they  might  appeal  to 
their  neighbors,  if  they  had  any,  or  some  power  that  would  interfere 
with  the  object  of  his  mission,  French  inquired  of  Semmes  if  his  friends 
would  attempt  to  interfere  with  his  arrest.  He  replied,  very  emphati 
cally,  "  No,  sir  !  it  is  enough  for  my  family  and  my  friends  to  know  that 
the  United  States  government  orders  this."  He  then  requested  to  be 
allowed  until  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  to  make  preparations  for  his 
journey.  This  was  finally  conceded,  but  when  informed  that  he  must 
select  his  room,  and  remain  in  it  under  guard,  his  temper  again  forsook 
him,  and  he  protested  violently  against  what  he  termed  "a  gross  outrage" 
to  perpetrate  on  an  officer  of  his  rank,  claiming  that  his  parole  should 
be  accepted.  Lieutenant  French  replied  that  he  did  not  concede  to  his 
prisoner  any  military  or  naval  rank  whatever,  and  should  treat  him 
accordingly,  and  that  his  treatment  would  be  measured  only  by  his  good 
behavior.  Semmes  then  went  to  his  room,  and  French  proceeded  to 
station  a  guard  in  and  about  his  house. 

Nothing  occurred  worthy  of  note  until  the  appointed  time  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning,  when  Semmes  took  his  departure  with  his  captor  for 
Mobile,  where  they  took  the  steamer  for  New  Orleans.  Lieutenant 
French  was  urged  by  the  military  authorities  to  take  a  large  guard  as  far 
as  New  Orleans,  as  they  anticipated  that  the  fact  of  the  arrest  would  be 
telegraphed  there,  and  that  the  friends  of  Semmes  might  rally  and  attempt 
to  rescue  him.  But  French's  interview,  while  at  New  Orleans,  with  Major 
Lovell  convinced  him  that  the  discipline  in  that  city  was  too  efficient  to 
permit  any  thing  of  the  kind.  Nor  was  he  in  this  regard  mistaken,  for, 
although  when  they  reached  the  city  the  depot  was  surrounded  by  a 
crowd,  no  effort  was  made  to  rescue  the  prisoner. 


:»f '     1 


JAMES  FORNEY, 

BREVET  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  U.  S.  MARINE  CORF 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  183 

At  Semmes's  request,  French  drove  with  him  at  once  to  General 
Canby's  head-quarters,  as  Semmes  wished  to  see  that  officer  and  entreat 
that  he  should  not  be  locked  up  in  a  prison,  of  which  he  seemed  to  be  in 
greater  dread  than  of  anything  else.  On  reaching  Canby's  head-quarters, 
and  being  shown  into  a  reception-room,  French  entered  the  parlor  and 
informed  General  Canby  of  the  object  of  the  visit.  General  Canby  re 
turned  with  him  to  the  reception-room,  when  French  said,  "General 
Canby,  this  is  Captain  Semmes."  Semmes,  on  rising  and  bowing  to  the 
general,  said,  very  imperiously,  "Admiral  Semmes,  if  you  please,  sir!" 
The  general  returned  his  salute  with  only  a  dignified  bow.  Either  from 
the  failure  to  have  his  rank  and  title  recognized  in  accordance  with  his 
demand,  or  moved  by  the  dignified  manner  of  General  Canby,  or  possibly 
by  a  realization  of  his  position,  the  prisoner  was  much  embarrassed  and 
ill  at  ease.  General  Canby  remarked  that  he  would  not  interfere  with 
any  disposition  that  French  desired  to  make  of  the  prisoner,  and  so  the 
interview  terminated.  French  took  Semmes  to  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  to 
await  the  sailing  of  the  steamer  for  New  York,  three  days  after. 

The  trip  to  New  York  was  without  incident,  and  upon  arrival  at  Wash 
ington,  Semmes  was  delivered  to  the  commandant  of  the  Navy-Yard  in 
that  city.  He  remained  a  close  prisoner  at  the  Marine  Barracks  under 
the  special  care  of  Lieutenant  Cochrane,  until  April,  when  he  was  released 
without  trial  and  restored  to  his  parole. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

1866-71. — The  Great  Fire  in  Portland,  Maine — Grade  of  Brigadier-General  created — 
Services  in  Aid  of  the  Civil  Power — Fight  at  Formosa — Capture  of  Filibusters — 
Aiding  the  Civil  Authorities — Capture  of  the  Forward — Darien  Expedition — Valu 
able  Services  in  aiding  the  Revenue  Officers. 

1866. — A  fire  broke  out  in  the  city  of  Portland,  Maine,  late  on  the 
afternoon  of  July  4,  1866,  and  spread  with  such  fearful  rapidity  that  in  a 
very  brief  time  a  valuable  portion  of  the  city  was  burned.  As  is  usually 
the  case  in  times  of  public  distress  or  excitement,  thieves  and  lawless 
persons  from  other  cities  gathered  in  Portland,  anticipating  a  rich  harvest 
of  plunder  from  the  effects  of  the  suffering  inhabitants.  The  city  became 
so  infested  with  these  birds  of  prey  that,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th,  it 
was  determined  by  the  city  authorities  to  ask  for  military  aid.  Early  on 
the  morning  of  the  yth  a  telegram  was  sent  to  the  commandant  of  the 
Navy-Yard  at  Kittery,  Maine,  asking  for  as  many  Marines  as  could  be 
spared.  Promptly  on  receipt  of  the  despatch,  with  scarcely  an  hour's 
warning  or  preparation,  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  H.  Jones  left  Ports- 


1 84  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps, 

mouth  in  command  of  two  companies  of  Marines,  and  arrived  in  Portland 
at  1 2. 30  P.M.  Upon  arrival,  a  strong  line  of  sentinels  was  posted  through 
out  the  burned  district  and  in  other  avenues  of  the  city  ;  many  persons 
were  arrested  and  quiet  soon  established.  The  Marines  remained  on 
duty  until  the  nth  of  July,  when  they  returned  to  the  station.  Colonel' 
Jones,  his  officers  and  men,  received  the  thanks  of  the  city  government,, 
in  a  series  of  resolutions,  for  the  very  valuable  services  rendered  on  that 
occasion.  The  full  strength  of  the  battalion  was  as  follows  :  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  James  H.  Jones,  commanding;  first  company,  Captain  John- 
Schermerhorn,  three  sergeants,  three  corporals,  two  musicians,  and  fifty 
privates ;  second  company,  First  Lieutenant  Henry  J.  Bishop,  two  ser 
geants,  two  corporals,  two  musicians,  and  fifty  privates. 

1867. — In  the  latter  part  of  February,  1867,  by  act  of  Congress,  the 
grade  of  colonel-commandant  was  abolished,  and  that  of  brigadier-general 
and  commandant  substituted.  Accordingly,  on  the  2d  of  March,  Colonel- 
Commandant  J.  Zeilin  was  commissioned  brigadier-general. 

At  the  time  of  the  raid  on  the  illegal  whiskey  establishments  in  Phila 
delphia,  a  force  of  Marines,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  men,  under 
command  of  Brevet  Major  L.  L.  Dawson,  Brevet  Captain  Fagan,  and 
Lieutenant  Ford,  aided  the  civil  authorities  in  preserving  the  peace,  and 
in  protecting  the  officers  from  being  assaulted  by  the  mob. 

During  the  excitement  over  the  efforts  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  whiskey 
men  to  defraud  the  government,  the  Federal  officers  called  on  the  com 
mandant  at  the  Navy- Yard  for  aid  in  enforcing  the  law.  In  accordance 
with  this  call,  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Broome  of  the  Marines,  with 
four  companies,  was  ordered  to  the  scene  of  the  troubles  at  "  Irishtown.'5" 
The  two  companies  which  first  arrived  on  the  spot  were  commanded  by 
Brevet  Captain  William  Wallace  and  Second  Lieutenant  James  B. 
Breese.  The  other  companies,  which  left  the  barracks  at  a  later  hour, 
were  officered  by  Brevet  Major  G.  P.  Houston,  Captain  William  J. 
Squires,  Brevet  Captain  E.  P.  Meeker,  and  First  Lieutenant  Sherman. 
The  duty  which  the  Marines  were  called  to  execute  at  this  time  was  of  a 
peculiarly  delicate  nature ;  but  their  courageous  bearing,  fine  discipline, 
and  gentlemanly  deportment,  in  the  face  of  much  peril,  as  well  as  of  the 
most  exciting  provocation,  won  the  highest  commendation  alike  of  the 
city  authorities  and  the  Federal  officials. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  Admiral  Bell,  in  accordance  with  instructions,, 
left  Shanghai  in  the  Hartford,  accompanied  by  the  Wyoming,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Carpenter  commanding,  for  the  south  end  of  the  island 
of  Formosa,  to  destroy,  if  possible,  the  lurking-places  of  the  band  of 
savages  inhabiting  the  southeast  end  of  that  island,  who  murdered,  the 
preceding  March,  the  shipwrecked  officers  and  crew  of  the  American 
bark  Rover.  The  landing  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  officers,  sailors, 
and  Marines,  provided  with  four  days'  rations  and  water,  was  made  on 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  185 

the  i3th,  under  the  command  of  Commander  G.  E.  Belknap,  of  the 
Hartford,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant-Commander  Alexander  S.  McKen- 
zie,  fleet  lieutenant,  as  second  in  command  ;  the  latter  earnestly  sought 
to  go  on  the  expedition ;  but  his  valor  was  rewarded  only  by  death,  as 
he  was  killed  in  the  fight.  In  the  terrible  heat,  and  surrounded  by 
savages  in  ambush,  the  Marines  and  sailors  fought  desperately,  burning 
a  number  of  native  huts,  and  chasing  the  warriors  until  they  could  chase 
them  no  longer,  though  at  a  grievous  cost  of  life. 

The  Marines  were  under  command  of  Captain  James  Forney,  who 
submitted  the  following  report  to  Commander  Belknap,  dated  on  board 
the  flag-ship  Hartford,  at  sea,  June  17  :  "I  have  the  honor  herewith  to 
submit  a  brief  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Marines  on  the  i3th  inst., 
on  the  island  of  Formosa.  On  first  landing,  by  your  order,  I  took 
charge  of  twenty  Marines,  deploying  them  forward  as  skirmishers.  A 
dense  and  almost  impenetrable  thicket  of  bush  prevented  the  men  from 
advancing  very  rapidly.  I  penetrated  with  them  to  a  creek  about  half  a 
mile  from  the  beach  without  meeting  with  any  of  the  enemy,  and  was 
then  recalled  for  further  orders.  You  then  instructed  me  to  leave  a 
sergeant  and  five  men  on  the  beach,  and  to  advance  with  the  main  body, 
headed  by  yourself.  In  consequence  of  all  further  operations  coming 
under  your  own  observation,  I  have  nothing  further  to  report,  except 
that  the  men  behaved  gallantly,  and  deserve  credit  for  the  manner  in 
which  they  marched  over  such  a  rough  and  hilly  country,  and  under  such 
intense,  scorching  heat.  Orderly-Sergeant  Gottermeyer  was  of  great 
assistance  to  me  during  the  entire  day,  and  deserves  favorable  mention. 
A  few  of  the  men  were  struck  down  by  the  oppressive  heat  of  the  sun, 
but  were  not  seriously  injured,  and  are  now  doing  their  usual  duty.  The 
entire  number  of  Marines  on  shore  was  forty-three,  thirty-one  of  whom 
were  from  this  ship,  and  twelve  from  the  Wyoming."  Having  accom 
plished  all  that  was  possible,  Admiral  Bell  returned  to  Takao  on  the 
i4th,  and  there  buried  the  remains  of  the  brave  McKenzie  in  the  grounds 
of  the  British  consulate. 

1869. — On  the  1 3th  of  July,  Lieutenant  Breese  was  ordered  from  the 
Marine  Barracks,  Brooklyn,  to  report  to  General  Barlow,  United  States 
marshal,  to  aid  in  preventing  a  violation  of  the  neutrality  laws.  He  pro 
ceeded,  in  the  revenue  cutter  Mahoning  to  Gardiner's  Island,  at  the  east 
end  of  Long  Island,  where,  on  the  i6th,  with  a  company  of  fifty  Marines, 
he  surrounded  a  camp  of  Cuban  filibusters,  and  captured  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  of  them.  The  prisoners  were  sent  on  board  of  the  Mahoning 
and  carried  to  New  York,  where  the  expedition  arrived  the  next  day. 

1870. — On  the  25th  of  March,  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  L.  Broome, 
commanding  the  Marine  barracks  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy-Yard,  received 
a  communication  from  Rear-Admiral  S.  W.  Godon,  to  the  effect  that  the 
latter  had  been  applied  to  by  the  assistant  assessor  of  the  Third  New 


1 86  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

York  District  for  a  force  of  Marines,  to  assist  the  United  States  Internal 
Revenue  officers  in  seizing  and  destroying  a  number  of  illicit  distilleries. 
Colonel  Broome  was  ordered  to  prepare  a  force  of  at  least  one  hundred 
men,  and  as  many  more  as  he  could  conveniently  spare  for  the  purpose, 
and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  with  Assistant  Assessor  J.  B.  Wass 
to  carry  out  the  law  for  the  suppression  of  the  illegal  operations,  affording 
every  protection  to  the  assessors.  In  obedience  to  the  order,  he  ar 
ranged  with  the  assistant  assessor  to  accompany  him  to  "  Irishtown," 
on  the  28th,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  protection  to  the  United  States 
revenue  officers.  The  Marines,  when  joined  by  a  detachment  from  the 
United  States  receiving-ship  Vermont,  numbered  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  men.  This  force  was,  with  loaded  muskets  and  forty  rounds  of  ball 
cartridges,  in  readiness  to  leave  the  barracks  at  the  appointed  time. 
Colonel  Broome  and  his  command  left  the  barracks,  accompanied  by  the 
Internal  Revenue  officers.  They  proceeded  to  ' '  Irishtown, ' '  where  a  large 
crowd  of  rioters  had  assembled.  The  mob  greeted  the  Marines  with 
yells  and  shouts  of  defiance,  crying  out,  "Irishtown  is  ready  for  you  !" 
"The  rangers  will  warm  you!"  etc.  Some  stones  were  thrown  at  this 
time,  but  no  one  was  injured.  On  arriving  at  Plymouth  Street,  the  im 
mediate  neighborhood  was  occupied  by  the  Marines.  The  mob  was 
violent,  and  stones,  brick-bats,  etc.,  began  to  fly  rapidly.  One  of  these 
missiles,  evidently  thrown  at  the  Marines,  struck  a  police  officer  on  the 
head,  injuring  him  severely.  At  this,  Colonel  Broome  made  a  slight 
demonstration  with  the  command,  which  seemed  to  remind  the  mob  that 
a  continuance  of  their  proceedings  might  be  attended  with  some  danger 
to  themselves,  for  they  became  in  a  measure  quiet,  and  showed  evident 
signs  of  timidity.  Bricks  and  stones,  however,  after  this,  were  thrown 
at  intervals  from  the  house-tops.  In  the  mean  time,  while  the  Marines 
were  subjected  to  these  annoyances  in  the  street,  the  Internal  Revenue 
officers  were  engaged  in  destroying  a  large  illicit  distillery.  When  this 
was  accomplished,  the  command  moved  to  another  distillery,  which  was 
soon  put  out  of  working  order  by  the  Internal  Revenue  officers.  The 
assessors,  having  accomplished  all  they  intended  for  the  day,  were  es 
corted  to  a  locality  half  a  mile  from  "  Irishtown,"  followed  by  a  crowd  of 
ruffians,  who  were  cursing  and  abusing  them  all  the  way.  The  revenue 
officers,  supposing  that  they  no  longer  required  protection,  wheeled  out 
of  column,  and  had  proceeded  up  Myrtle  Avenue  a  short  distance,  when 
the  mob  rushed  after  them.  Colonel  Broome  made  a  movement  to  assist 
the  revenue  officers,  seeing  which  the  mob  scattered  rapidly.  First 
Lieutenant  Henry  J.  Bishop  was  on  duty  at  the  place  where  most  of  the 
disturbance  occurred,  and  was  very  energetic  and  efficient  in  the  per 
formance  of  his  duties.  The  thanks  of  the  numerous  officers  were  duly 
presented  to  Colonel  Broome,  and  the  conduct  of  the  Marines  was  men 
tioned  in  the  most  complimentary  terms  by  General  McDowell. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 87 

On  the  6th  of  June  information  was  received  by  the  United  States 
consul  at  Mazatlan,  from  the  consul  at  Guaymas,  Mexico,  that  the 
steamer  Forward,  bearing  the  San  Salvador  flag,  had  landed  between  one 
hundred  and  two  hundred  men  of  different  nationalities,  who  had  taken 
possession  of  and  robbed  the  custom-house,  forced  the  foreign  merchants 
to  contribute  funds  and  goods  to  a  large  amount,  compelled  the  United 
States  consul,  under  protest,  to  supply  coal  for  the  steamer,  and  com 
mitted  other  outrages.  On  learning  these  facts,  Commander  W.  W. 
Low  of  the  Mohican,  at  Mazatlan,  immediately  made  preparations  for 
getting  under  way,  it  being  reported  that  the  Forward  was  still  in  the 
Gulf  of  California.  A  few  days  later  the  Forward  was  captured  and 
burned  in  the  harbor  of  Boca  Teacapan,  a  place  about  half-way  between 
Mazatlan  and  San  Bias.  The  destruction  of  the  piratical  craft  Was  ac 
complished  by  the  Marines  and  sailors  of  the  Mohican  in  six  boats,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Brownson,  who  in  his  report  mentions,  among 
others,  the  conduct  of  First  Sergeant  Philip  Moore  and  Corporal  F. 
Moulton  of  the  Marines  as  deserving  special  notice. 

Accompanying  the  important  Darien  exploring  expedition  of  the  year, 
under  Commander  Thomas  O.  Selfridge  of  the  Navy,  was  a  force  of  sixty 
Marines,  under  Brevet  Major  George  P.  Houston,  Lieutenants  Goodrell 
and  Allen.  Although  the  mission  was  one  of  a  peaceful  nature,  the  de 
tachment  had  the  honor  to  serve  in  an  expedition  whose  results  were  of 
great  importance  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the  world,  under  a  naval 
officer  who  has  done  more  to  solve  the  great  problem  of  interoceanic 
communication  than  has  been  accomplished  by  any  one  else. 

On  the  2d  and  3d  of  November,  of  the  same  year,  the  Marines  were 
again  called  on  to  assist  the  revenue  officers.  The  force  numbered  two  hun 
dred  and  forty-five  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and  privates,  and 
was  employed  in  protecting  the  officers  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Depart 
ment,  while  engaged  in  "  Irishtown,"  in  seizing  and  breaking  up  illicit 
stills.  They  were  employed  in  those  localities  where  the  people  were 
most  unruly,  and  it  became  necessary,  in  consequence  of  the  mob  stoning 
the  men,  to  charge  upon  the  rioters  on  two  occasions,  occupy  the  roofs 
and  upper  stories  of  many  houses,  tear  down  fences,  etc.,  all  of  which  was 
promptly  done  by  the  Marines.  Colonel  Broome  was  ably  assisted  by 
Captain  and  Brevet  Major  G.  P.  Houston,  First  Lieutenant  and  Brevet 
Captain  E.  B.  Meeker,  First  Lieutenant  F.  D.  Webster,  First  Lieutenant 
E.  R.  Robinson,  and  Second  Lieutenant  G.  C.  Goodloe,  who  did  all 
they  could  to  make  the  duty  they  were  engaged  in  a  success,  and  all 
deserved  great  credit.  It  became  necessary  in  some  instances  to  place 
detachments  in  charge  of  Orderly-Sergeant  James  W.  Buckley,  Sergeant 
Thomas  B.  Isham,  and  Sergeants  Ethelbert  Reese,  William  Stanly,  and 
Rudolph  Bamberg,  who  performed  their  duty  well. 

In  a  communication  from  General  Zeilin,  commandant  of  the  Corps, 


1 88  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

to  Colonel  Broome,  dated  at  Head-quarters  Marine  Corps,  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  November  27,  the  general  said,  "I  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  communication  of  the  i4th  inst.,  enclosing  copies 
of  letters  of  thanks  and  commendations  of  Supervisor  L.  B.  Butcher,  and 
the  colonel  commanding  troops  during  the  recent  operations  at  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  etc.  I  have  read  with  peculiar  pleasure  and  satisfaction  the 
testimony  borne  by  these  authorities  as  to  the  valuable  services  rendered 
by  the  Marines  on  the  occasion  referred  to.  The  services  which  the 
officers  and  men  were  called  upon  to  perform  on  this  trying  occasion 
were  of  a  delicate  nature,  requiring  firmness  and  discretion.  To  the 
display  of  these  qualities  is  due  the  successful  and  bloodless  result  of  these 
operations.  I  highly  appreciate  your  conduct  throughout  as  command 
ing  officer  of  the  Marines.  The  ready  and  able  assistance  afforded  you 
by  Captain  G.  P.  Houston,  First  Lieutenants  E.  P.  Meeker,  Frank  D. 
Webster,  E.  R.  Robinson,  and  Second  Lieutenant  G.  C.  Goodloe,  as 
well  as  by  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  is  deserving  of 
the  warmest  commendation,  and  reflects  credit  upon  all  concerned." 

1871. — On  the  1 2th  and  I3th  of  January,  1871,  the  services  of  the 
Marines  at  the  Brooklyn  Yard  were  again  called  inta  requisition  in  aiding 
the  revenue  officers  in  that  portion  of  Brooklyn  known  as  "Irishtown."  A 
detachment  from  the  Eighth  Infantry  was  also  employed.  On  the  i2th 
two  large  distilleries  were  broken  up,  and  in-  accomplishing  this  the 
whole  day  was  consumed.  On  the  next  day,  Brevet  Major-General 
Vogdes  informed  Colo'nel  Broome  that,  in  consequence  of  the  irregularity 
of  some  of  the  soldiers,  he  desired  that  the  Marines  should  be  exclusively 
employed  in  protecting  the  workmen  at  all  the  different  distilleries  in 
"  Irishtown,"  and  also  to  guard  all  public  property  and  material  seized.  In 
consequence  of  this  arrangement,  the  Marines  were  formed  in  detachments, 
occupied  all  distilleries  seized  in  lc  Irishtown,"  guarded  all  the  material 
seized  and  all  the  workmen  employed.  The  different  guards  were  in 
charge  of  Captain  and  Brevet  Major  G.  Porter  Houston,  First  Lieutenant 
and  Brevet  Captain  E.  P.  Meeker,  First  Lieutenant  Erastus  R.  Robinson, 
Second  Lieutenant  S.  K.  Allen,  Second  Lieutenant  E.  T.  Bradford,  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  G.  C.  Goodloe,  Second  Lieutenant  J.  D.  Smyser, 
Orderly  Sergeant  James  W.  Buckley,  Sergeant  William  Ring,  Sergeant 
Thomas  B.  Isham,  Sergeant  Morris  Clarrison,  Sergeant  Howard  Fisher, 
Sergeant  William  H.  Gardner,  and  Corporal  James  Cassidy.  These 
officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  performed  their  duties  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  the  revenue  officers,  and  in  consequence  of  the  good  con 
duct  of  the  Marines  on  this  occasion,  Colonel  Broome  was  directed 
by  the  admiral  commanding  the  station  to  express  to  them  his  high 
appreciation  of  their  good  conduct.  During  the  i2th,  First  Lieutenant 
F.  D.  Webster,  attached  to  the  United  States  steamer  Tennessee,  was 
with  the  battalion  of  Marines,  and,  with  the  officers  referred  to,  did  all 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  1 89 

that  was  necessary  to  assist  in  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  the  United 
States  Internal  Revenue  Department.  General  Zeilin,  in  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  Colonel  Broome's  report  of  the  affair,  wrote  :  "  The  manner 
in  which  these  delicate  duties  were  performed  reflects  credit  upon  all 
concerned,  and  meets  with  my  entire  approbation." 

During  the  following  July  the  Marines  were  once  more  called  on  to 
render  aid  to  the  revenue  officers,  who  were  endeavoring  to  break  up  the 
illicit  business  in  "  Irishtown."  At  about  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  1 4th  the  command  proceeded  to  "  Irishtown,"  for  the  purpose  of  pro 
tecting  a  large  force  of  United  States  officials,  under  General  James 
Jordan,  while  engaged  in  arresting  certain  desperadoes  and  proprietors 
of  the  illicit  stills.  General  Jordan  requested  Colonel  Broome  to  halt 
the  Marines  in  the  Navy- Yard  near  the  York  Street  gate  until  he  should 
require  their  assistance,  which  was  done.  The  colonel  then  proceeded 
with  the  revenue  officers  out  of  the  Navy-Yard  to  Dixon's  Alley,  each 
party  of  officers  proceeding  to  the  posts  assigned.  The  party  at  the 
entrance  of  or  near  Dixon's  Alley  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes,, 
when,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  a  rapid  fire  from  different  points  was  opened 
on  them  from  men  who  were  lying  flat  in  the  street  or  hidden  in  areas 
of  houses  and  in  wagons.  The  firing  had  not  been  going  on  more  than 
a  few  seconds  when  Captain  Clinton  Gilbert  fell,  mortally  wounded. 
Major  Weeks  was  wounded  in  the  hand  and  another  officer  in  the  leg. 
As  the  party  were  hard  pushed,  Colonel  Broome  ordered  the  Marines  up 
immediately,  and  opened  on  the  gang  with  his  revolver.  In  a  few  min 
utes  the  Marines,  under  Lieutenant  Welles,  made  their  appearance,  on 
the  double-quick.  The  affair  momentarily  grew  exciting.  As  soon  as 
the  ruffians  heard  the  Marines  coming,  they  broke  at  a  run  and  hid  them 
selves  in  the  alleys  and  dens  of  the  locality,  where  it  was  impossible  to- 
find  them.  Colonel  Broome  then  placed  guards  at  all  important  points, 
and  ordered  all  the  residents  of  houses  to  leave  their  windows,  which 
they  did.  Guards  of  Marines  proceeded  to  different  parts  of  "Irishtown," 
and  protected  the  revenue  officers  and  United  States  marshals  while  en 
gaged  in  forcing  open  houses  to  make  arrests.  The  conduct  of  the  en 
listed  men  on  the  occasion  of  this  raid  was  admirable;  and  First  Lieu 
tenant  George  M.  Welles,  First  Lieutenant  E.  R,  Robinson,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Samuel  K.  Allen,  who  composed  all  the  commissioned  officers 
under  Colonel  Broome,  performed  their  duty  exceedingly  well,  and  re 
ceived  the  warmest  thanks  of  the  civil  authorities.  The  conduct  of  the 
officers  and  men  was  subsequently  complimented  by  General  Zeilin,  as 
"deserving  of  all  praise." 

In  the  following  September,  the  revenue  officials  were  again  in  need  of 
armed  assistance,  and,  for  the  fourth  time,  the  Marines  at  the  Brooklyn 
Navy-Yard  were  ordered  to  the  work.  At  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
Colonel  Broome  with  his  command  proceeded  on  board  the  tug  Catalpa, 


190  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

to  aid  General  J.  Jordan,  assessor,  in  making  seizure  of  vessels  with  con 
traband  whiskey  on  board.  The  tug  proceeded  first  to  Williamsburg, 
where  a  search  was  made  for  vessels  and  lighters  containing  whiskey,  but 
none  was  found.  Other  points  were  also  searched  without  success.  At 
the  first  appearance  of  daylight,  the  tug  proceeded  to  "  Irishtown,"  where 
the  wharves  were  searched  for  a  vessel  said  to  be  there  loading  with 
whiskey  in  barrels,  but  the  vessel  was  not  found.  The  information  that 
a  vessel  was  there  loading  with  whiskey  was  positive,  but  the  law-breakers 
managed  to  get  her  away. 

The  fifth  "whiskey  raid"  in  which  the  Marines  were  engaged  was  on 
the  1 7th  of  October.  The  Marines  were  occupied  during  the  day  in 
guarding  the  property  of  the  illicit  distilleries  in  "Irishtown,"  and  in 
protecting  and  escorting  working  parties  and  revenue  officers  from  one 
locality  to  another.  No  trouble  occurred  until  the  latter  part  of  the 
day,  at  which  time  a  gang  of  ruffians  attacked  a  small  party  of  Marines, 
under  Lieutenant  Bradford,  with  stones,  wounding  Sergeant  Casey. 
This  gang  was  speedily  dispersed,  and  one  of  their  number  was  arrested 
and  turned  over  to  the  civil  authorities.  The  seizures  made  on  this 
occasion  were  very  extensive.  The  officers  under  Colonel  Broome, 
throughout  this  raid,  were  Captain  H.  A.  Bartlett,  First  Lieutenant 
Erastus  R.  Robinson,  Second  Lieutenant  Samuel  K.  Allen,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Edward  T.  Bradford.  Lieutenant  Smyser  was  officer  of  the 
guard  for  the  security  of  prisoners. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

1871. — The  Corean  Expedition — A  Surveying  Party  fired  upon  by  the  Corean  Forts — 
Punishment  inflicted  on  the  Coreans — The  Marines  in  Advance — The  Final 
Triumph — Report  of  Captain  Tilton. 

THE  American  Minister  to  China,  Mr.  Low,  having  been  instructed, 
in  1871,  to  arrange  and  conclude,  if  possible,  a  convention  with  Corea 
for  the  protection  of  sailors  and  others  shipwrecked  on  the  coast  of  that 
country,  it  became  necessary  that  he  should  put  himself  in  direct  com 
munication  with  the  authorities.  With  this  view,  and  with  the  assent  of 
the  authorities  of  China,  to  which  country  the  government  of  Corea  was 
tributary,  the  minister  sailed,  in  May,  1871,  from  Nagasaki  to  Boissee 
anchorage,  on  the  Salee  River  in  Corea,  in  the  Colorado,  the  flag 
ship  of  Rear-Admiral  Rodgers  commanding  the  Asiatic  fleet.  After 
the  arrival  of  the  fleet  at  the  anchorage,  and  after  communication 
with  and  visits  from  the  local  authorities,  the  Coreans  appeared  satisfied 
that  the  expedition  was  not  only  peaceful  but  friendly  in  its  objects.  A 


History  of  t/ie  United  Stales  Marine  Corps.  191 

party  engaged  in  the  peaceful  object  of  making  surveys  and  soundings, 
in  the  interest  of  science,  and  for  the  safety  of  commerce,  with  the 
understood  consent  of  the  authorities,  without  protest  or  challenge  by 
any  one,  passed  up  the  channel  to  a  point  above  the  Corean  forts, 
beyond  the  reach  of  assistance  from  the  main  body  of  the  fleet.  This 
party  was  suddenly  and  treacherously  attacked  while  in  the  difficult 
navigation  of  an  unknown  passage  swept  by  strong  tides  and  filled  with 
hidden  rocks.  The  surveying  boats  were  obliged  to  repass  the  forts, 
under  a  fierce  fire  of  cannon  suddenly  opened  upon  them  and  main 
tained  with  spirit  and  energy.  The  small  vessels  which  had  accom 
panied  the  party,  hurrying  into  action,  answered  the  fire  of  the  forts, 
and,  driving  the  Coreans  from  their  works,  rescued  the  surveying  boats 
from  danger,  with  only  two  of  our  men  wounded. 

It  was  determined,  by  the  concurrent  judgment  of  the  Minister  and 
Admiral  Rodgers,  that  an  explanation  should  be  at  once  demanded,  and 
that  ample  time  should  be  given  the  Coreans  to  understand  the  situation 
and  make  proper  reparation.  This  was  done,  and  ten  days  were  allowed 
to  pass,  during  which  no  explanation  was  offered  by  the  Coreans.  An 
attack  was  then  planned  and  carried  out  upon  the  forts  and  citadel  from 
which  the  outrage  had  been  committed. 

The  work  which  followed  proved  the  most  important  engaged  in  by 
any  portion  of  the  Marine  Co^ps  since  the  close  of  the  war.  On  the 
loth  of  June  the  Monocacy  and  Palos,  with  four  steam-launches,  left 
Boissee  Island,  and  proceeded  up  the  river  Salee.  The  landing-party 
comprised  a  brigade  of  seamen  infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Commander 
Casey,  with  seven  field-pieces  under  Lieutenant-Commander  Cassell,  five 
hundred  and  seventy-five  strong,  and  a  battalion  of  Marines  under  the 
command  of  Captain  McLane  Tilton,  as  follows :  Second  Lieutenant 
W.  J.  Macdonald,  Jr.,  adjutant;  First  Company,  fifty-three  men,  First 
Lieutenant  J.  B.  Breese  ;  Second  Company,  fifty-two  men,  First  Lieu 
tenant  F.  A.  Mullany.  This  battalion  was  in  ship's  boats  in  tow  of  the 
Palos  and  Monocacy. 

Captain  Blake,  of  the  Alaska,  was  detailed  as  commander-in-chief  of 
the  forces,  and  Commander  Kimberly  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  division  at  his  own  request.  To  Lieutenant-Commander  Picking  was 
assigned  the  command  of  the  steam-launches. 

The  general  programme  was  that  the  Monocacy,  Palos,  and  launches 
should  advance  up  the  river,  and,  by  attacking  the  forts  on  that  side, 
create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  landing-party,  who  should  advance  by 
land  and  capture  and  demolish  the  forts  as  they  advanced. 

The  expedition  advanced  promptly,  in  obedience  to  a  signal  from  the 
flag-ship,  and  the  vessels  soon  received  a  hot  fire  from  one  of  the  forts, 
which  was  quickly  silenced  by  the  Monocacy  and  Palos. 

The  launches  containing  the  Marines  were  promptly  cast  off  and  pulled 


192  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

for  the  shore,  immediately  followed  by  the  naval  brigade  under  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Casey. 

The  battalion  under  the  command  of  Captain  Tilton  landed  on  a 
gently-sloping  beach,  two  hundred  yards  from  high-water  mark.  The 
mud  proved  a  serious  obstruction,  coming  up  over  the  knees  of  the  tallest 
of  the  party,  a  fact  which  would  have  given  a  deadly  advantage  to  a  better- 
appointed  enemy.  On  landing,  a  line  of  skirmishers  was  thrown  out, 
facing  a  tongue  of  land  jutting  out  into  the  river,  covered  with  scrub  and 
strengthened  by  a  square  redoubt  on  the  right.  As  the  Marines  advanced, 
the  garrison  of  the  fort  were  seen  running  through  the  brush  and  long- 
grown  crops,  turning  a  few  times,  and  firing  shots  which  took  no  effect. 
The  Marines  then  reconnoitred  the  grounds  and  entered  the  fort,  where 
they  remained  till  the  main  body  came  up.  The  main  body  proceeded 
to  dismantle  the  fort,  spiking  and  dismounting  the  guns  and  throwing 
down  the  works.  Meanwhile,  the  Marines  advanced  with  the  river  on 
their  right,  extending  as  far  to  the  left  as  possible,  so  as  to  cover  a  wide 
surface  of  country.  At  length  they  took  position  on  a  wooded  knoll, 
which  appeared  to  be  used  as  a  cemetery,  being  covered  with  hemi 
spherical  mounds.  The  main  body  was  three-quarters  of  a  mile  behind. 
The  evening  was  now  far  advanced,  and  a  general  order  was  issued  to 
the  force  to  bivouac  for  the  night  where  they  were.  Accordingly,  for 
the  first  time,  a  Western  force  spent  the  night  on  the  soil  of  Corea.  On 
the  following  day  the  little  army  advanced  on  the  second  line  of  fortifi 
cation.  One-third  of  the  Marines  were  ordered  to  march  on  the  face  of 
the  works  looking  landward,  two-thirds  being  held  in  reserve.  But  the  as 
sault  proved  a  bloodless  one ;  the  enemy  had  decamped,  probably  in 
consequence  of  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  squadron  ;  and  they  entered  the 
works  without  opposition.  With  despatch  they  set  to  work,  and  in  a 
remarkably  short  space  of  time  the  battlements  were  dismantled,  fifty  or 
sixty  insignificant  pieces  of  cannon  being  spiked  and  thrown  over  the 
cliff  into  the  river.  The  ramparts  were  then  demolished  on  the  front 
and  right  face  of  the  works.  But  the  main  object  the  party  had  in  view 
had  still  to  be  dealt  with,  being  no  other  than  the  destruction  of  the 
horseshoe-shaped  citadel,  which  first  opened  fire  on  the  surveying  party. 
For  it,  therefore,  our  forces  now  started,  the  Marines  in  the  advance.  For  a 
time  only  a  few  unarmed  natives  were  dislodged,  who  were  left  unmolested. 
At  last,  as  the  crest  of  a  ridge  was  reached,  the  enemy  were  seen  occupy 
ing  a  parallel  ridge  at  no  great  distance,  and  discharging  their  wretched 
matchlocks  at  the  foreigners  as  they  came  in  view,  their  great  black 
heads  popping  up  and  down  all  the  time.  But,  short  as  the  distance  was, 
it  was  beyond  their  range.  The  enemy  were  grouped  on  a  knoll  some 
distance  off;  but  a  few  shells  judiciously  planted  a'mong  them  exerted  a 
wonderful  influence,  and  they  fled  in  all  directions.  A  skirmishing  party 
of  Marines  was  thrown  out,  and  advanced  along  a  narrow  ridge  leading 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  193 

directly  to  the  horseshoe  citadel,  the  grand  stronghold  of  the  Coreans. 
Of  the  six  thousand  troops  said  to  have  been  employed  to  oppose  the 
American  operations,  one  thousand  formed  the  garrison  of  the  citadel. 
The  main  body  followed  the  skirmishers  close  up,  in  column  of  fours. 
A  line  of  Marines  was  thrown  out,  to  advance  parallel  to  the  right  flank 
of  the  redoubt,  which  was  selected  as  the  point  of  attack,  and  where  the 
advance  was  concealed  from  the  enemy.  This  advance  was  successfully 
accomplished,  till  the  party  took  position  along  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  enemy,  with  their  right  rest 
ing  on  a  path  leading  to  the  redoubt,  along  which  path  were  planted  in 
line  about  twenty-five  banners  a  few  feet  apart.  Parallel  to  this  ridge 
was  another,  about  thirty  yards  in  advance,  but  to  reach  it  the  whole  line 
must  expose  themselves  to  view. 

The  banners  being  regarded  as  a  decoy,  Captain  Tilton  detailed  only 
four  men  to  advance  towards  them.  They  had  secured  fifteen,  when  a 
tremendous  fire  was  opened  on  them,  a  perfect  hail  of  bullets,  lasting, 
happily,  only  half  a  minute.  As  soon  as  it  slackened,  a  rush  was  made 
for  the  ridge  in  advance,  which  movement  was  accomplished  with  the 
loss  of  only  one  Marine,  Private  Dennis  Hemahan,  although  another 
tremendous  volley  was  opened  on  them  as  soon  as  the  rush  was  made. 
They  were  now  only  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  from  the  redoubt, 
but  the  rank  vegetation  and  the  shoulder  of  the  hill  on  which  it  stood 
screened  them  from  its  fire.  Firing  now  became  general  and  rapid  on 
both  sides,  the  deadly  effect  of  the  American  practice  being  witnessed 
afterwards  by  the  number  of  Coreans  killed  and  wounded.  High  above 
the  sharp  rattle  of  the  firing  rose  a  melancholy  chant  of  the  Coreans  as 
they  fought.  As  little  assaulting  parties  of  the  Americans  advanced  to 
close  quarters,  the  Coreans,  their  ammunition  apparently  expended, 
assailed  them  with  stones.  The  citadel  was  built  upon  the  apex  of  a 
conical  hill,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high  from  the  bottom  of 
the  ravine,  through  which  our  men  had  to  pass  to  reach  it.  The  hill-side 
was  very  steep,  and  the  walls  of  the  fort  joined  the  acclivity  with 
scarcely  a  break  in  the  line.  Had  not  the  face  of  the  walls  been  some 
what  shattered  by  the  shells  from  the  Monocacy  and  the  howitzers  on 
shore,  the  ascent  would  have  been  most  difficult.  Nothing  could  check 
the  Marines  and  sailors;  on  they  rushed.  In  his  report,  Admiral 
Rodgers  says,  "The  heroic  McKee  was  first  to  mount  the  parapet,  and 
the  first  to  leap  into  a  hand-to-hand  conflict.  There  he  fell,  as  his  father 
fell  in  Mexico,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  first  inside  the  enemy's  stormed 
works."  Other  officers  and  men  were  quickly  over  the  parapet.  The 
fighting  inside  the  fort  was  desperate.  The  resolution  of  the  Coreans 
was  unyielding ;  they  apparently  expected  no  quarter,  and  probably 
would  have  given  none.  They  fought  to  the  death,  and  only  when  the 
last  man  fell  did  the  conflict  cease.  The  enemy  made  no  organized  re- 


194  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

sistance  in  the  forts  lower  down,  on  the  point  towards  the  river.  These 
were  opened  to  a  rear  attack  by  the  capture  of  the  citadel,  and  the  gar 
rison  fled.  Many  of  them,  however,  fell  under  the  fire  of  our  musketry 
and  howitzers,  which  had  nearly  cut  them  off  from  retreat.  The  yellow 
cotton  flag,  about  twelve  feet  square,  with  a  large  Chinese  cabalistic 
character  in  black  on  the  centre,  which  flew  over  the  fort,  was  captured 
by  the  Marines.  It  was  torn  down  by  Corporal  Brown,  of  the  Colorado's 
guard,  and  Private  Purvis,  of  the  Alaska's  guard,  by  Captain  Tilton's 
orders.  Private  Purvis,  of  the  Alaska's  guard,  had  his  hand  on  the 
halliards  a  second  or  two  before  any  one  else,  and  deserves  the  credit 
of  the  capture.  The  command,  to  a  man,  acted  in  a  very  creditable 
manner.  Fifty  flags  were  taken,  including  that  of  the  generalissimo; 
four  hundred  and  eighty-one  pieces  of  ordnance  fell  into  our  hands,  be 
sides  very  many  matchlocks  and  gingals.  The  guns  comprised  eleven 
32-pounders,  fourteen  24-pounders,  two  2o-pounders,  and  the  remainder, 
four  hundred  and  fifty-four,  were  2-  and  4-pounders.  Two  hundred 
and  forty-three  dead  Coreans  were  counted  in  the  works.  Few  prisoners 
were  taken,  not  above  twenty,  and  some  of  these  were  wounded.  These 
last  were  treated  with  all  the  attention  possible,  and  finally  released. 
Thus,  in  the  language  of  Admiral  Rodgers,  "  was  a  treacherous  assault 
upon  our  people,  and  an  insult  to  our  flag,  redressed." 

On  the  morning  of  the  i2th,  at  daylight,  after  having  occupied  the 
field  of  battle  eighteen  hours,  the  entire  force  re-embarked  in  one  hour, 
and  returned  to  the  anchorage  in  the  Monocacy  and  Palos.  Commander 
Kimberly,  in  his  report  of  the  affair,  says,  "  To  Captain  Tilton  and  his 
Marines  belongs  the  honor  of  first  landing  and  last  leaving  the  shore,  in 
leading  the  advance  on  the  march,  in  entering  the  forts,  and  in  acting 
as  skirmishers.  Chosen  as  the  advanced  guard,  on  account  of  their 
steadiness  and  discipline,  and  looked  to  with  confidence  in  case  of  diffi 
culty,  their  whole  behavior  on  the  march  and  in  the  assault  proved  that  it 
was  not  misplaced."  Lieutenant-Commander  Casey,  reporting  the 
action  to  his  superiors,  bore  similar  testimony,  as  follows:  "  The  Marines 
were  always  in  the  advance,  and  how  well  they  performed  their  part  I 
leave  you  to  judge.  Their  conduct  excited  the  admiration  of  all.  I  can 
not  express  in  too  high  terms  my  admiration  for  the  gallant  conduct, 
under  fire,  of  the  officers  attached  to  my  command,  and  their  cheerful 
ness  in  executing  orders  under  trying  circumstances." 

The  following  Marines  were  honorably  mentioned  :  Steamer  Alaska, 
Marines  who  captured  flags,  Privates  Hugh  Purvis,  commanding-general's 
flag,  John  Kelly,  H.  M.  Tolman,  and  J.  B.  Butler;  steamer  Benicia, 
Marines  who  captured  flags,  Corporal  Thomas  H.  Baker  and  Privates 
Daniel  Barry,  John  Bourke,  Charles  C.  Collins,  William  Dervees,  George 
Mclntyre,  and  Michael  McNamara.  Commander  Kimberly  mentions 
the  following-named  Marines  who  distinguished  themselves  in  the  attack  : 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  195 

"Private  Dougherty,  of  the  guard  of  the  Benicia,  for  seeking  out  and 
killing  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Corean  forces  ;  Private  McNamara, 
of  same  guard,  for  gallantry." 

Commander  Kimberly  says,  "To  Lieutenant-Commander  Picking, 
who  had  charge  of  the  steam-launches  and  boats,  we  are  under  great  ob 
ligations  for  the  manner  in  which  he  was  at  all  times  near  us  to  assist 
with  his  guns  and  boats,  and  it  was  to  his  exertions  in  getting  the  boats 
up  that  our  very  successful  embarkation  from  the  upper  forts  took  place, 
and  which  was  really  a  serious  matter,  taking  everything  into  considera 
tion!" 

The  following  is  the  report  of  Captain  McLane  Tilton,  commanding 
United  States  Marines  on  this  occasion  : 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  COLORADO, 

AT  ANCHOR  OFF  ISLE  BoiSEE,  COREA,  June   1 6,  1871. 

SIR, — In  conformity  with  your  direction,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  re 
port  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Marines  of  the  Asiatic  Fleet  in  the  late  expedition  against 
the  Coreans  : 

On  Saturday,  the  loth  instant,  the  guards  of  the  Colorado,  Alaska,  and  Benicia, 
numbering  one  hundred  and  five,  rank  and  file,  and  four  officers,  equipped  in  light 
marching  order,  with  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  and  two  days'  cooked  rations, 
were  embarked  from  their  respective  ships  and  towed  up  the  Salee  River  by  the  United 
States  ship  Palos.  Upon  nearing  the  first  of  a  line  of  fortifications,  extending  up  the 
river  on  the  Kang-Hoa  Island  side,  the  Palos  anchored,  and  by  order  of  the  command 
ing  officer  all  the  boats  cast  off  and  pulled  away  for  the  shore,  where  we  landed  on  a 
wide  sloping  beach,  two  hundred  yards  from  high-water  mark,  with  the  mud  over  the 
knees  of  the  tallest  man,  and  crossed  by  deeper  sluices  filled  with  softer  and  still 
deeper  mud.  After  getting  out  of  the  boats,  a  line  of  skirmishers  was  extended  across 
the  muddy  beach,  and  parallel  to  a  tongue  of  land  jutting  through  it  to  the  river,  forti 
fied  on  the  point  by  a  square  redoubt  on  the  right,  and  a  crenellated  wall  extending 
a  hundred  yards  to  the  left,  along  the  river,  with  fields  of  grain  and  a  small  village 
immediately  in  its  rear. 

The  fortification  had  been  silenced  by  the  cannonade  from  the  United  States  ship 
Monocacy,  and  the  steam-launch  and  the  garrison  fled  through  the  brush  and  fields, 
firing  a  few  shots  as  they  retired  at  a  distance.  The  Marines,  by  order,  then  advanced 
on  the  place,  sweeping  through  the  grain-fields  and  village,  meeting  no  opposition,  and 
remained  in  possession  until  the  main  body  came  up,  when  we  were  again  ordered  to 
push  forward,  which  we  did,  scouring  the  fields  as  far  as  practicable  from  the  left  of 
the  line  of  march,  the  river  being  on  our  right,  and  took  a  position  on  a  knoll,  covered 
with  hemispherical  mounds,  and  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  beautiful  hills  and 
inundated  rice-fields  immediately  around  us,  and  distant  about  half  a  mile  from  the  main 
body.  A  reconnoissance  was  then  made  towards  the  next  fort,  a  square  work  of  hewn 
granite  foundation,  with  a  split  rock,  mud,  and  mortar  rampart,  crenellated  on  each  face, 
with  a  front  of  about  thirty  paces,  and  a  messenger  despatched  to  head  quarters  with  the 
information  that  the  road  was  clear  and  passable  for  artillery.  Pickets  were  posted  on 
the  flanks  of  our  little  position,  five  hundred  yards  to  the  right  and  left,  a  rice-field  in 
undated  being  in  front,  and  a  Dahlgren  12-pounder  planted  so  as  to  command  the 
junction  of  the  only  two  approaches,  which  the  commanding  officer  had  ordered  up  to 
us  as  a  support.  An  order  having  been  sent  to  hold  our  position  till  morning,  we 

13 


1 96  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

bivouacked  with  our  arms  by  our  sides,  dividing  our  force  in  three  reliefs,  one  of  which 
was  continually  on  the  alert.  No  incident  occurred  during  the  night  except  rapid  firing 
of  small-arms  and  howling  from  a  hill  inland  from  us,  about  a  third  of  a  mile  distant. 
Two  or  three  shots  from  the  artillery  with  the  main  body  were  fired  across  the  left  of 
our  picket,  in  the  direction  of  the  noise,  which  presently  ceased. 

Sunday  morning,  the  nth  of  June,  the  main  body  came  up,  and  we  received  orders 
to  push  forward,  which  we  did,  and  after  reaching  the  fields  in  rear  of  the  next  of  the 
line  of  fortifications,  we  threw  a  line  of  skirmishers  across  the  peninsula  of  hills  on 
which  the  fort  stood,  and  after  the  main  body  came  up  we  advanced  towards  the  rear 
face,  with  two-thirds  of  our  guards  in  reserve.  We  entered  this  second  place  after 
reconnoitring  it  without  opposition,  and  dismantled  the  battlements  by  throwing  over 
the  fifty  or  sixty  insignificant  breech-loading  brass  cannon,  all  being  loaded,  and  tore 
down  the  ramparts  on  the  front  and  right  face  of  the  work  to  the  level  of  the  tread  of 
the  banquette.  The  ramparts  consisted  of  a  pierced  wall  of  chipped  granite,  with  a 
filling  of  earth  in  the  interstices,  and  coated  over  with  mortar,  giving  it  the  appearance 
of  being  more  solid  than  it  really  was.  The  cannon  were  rolled  over  the  cliff  into  the 
water  by  Bugler  English  without  much  trouble,  who  climbed  down  for  this  purpose. 
I  cannot  give  the  weight,  but  the  bore  was  not  over  two  inches  in  diameter.  A  photog 
rapher  came  on  shore  from  the  Monocacy  and  succeeded  in  taking  a  negative  picture 
of  the  place.  We  were  then  ordered  by  the  commanding  officer  to  push  forward  and 
find  the  road  leading  to  our  objective  point,  and  to  cover  the  flanks  of  the  main  body, 
which  we  did  with  two-thirds  of  the  Marines  deployed,  the  remainder  in  reserve.  We 
scoured  the  scrubby  woods  and  fields  of  grain,  stirring  up  two  or  three  unarmed  natives, 
refugees  from  the  village  we  had  just  passed,  who  were  not,  however,  molested ;  and 
after  progressing  half  a  mile,  down  deep  ravines  and  the  steepest  sort  of  hills,  were 
fired  upon  from  a  high  ridge  a  little  to  the  left  of  us,  up  which  our  skirmish-line  cau 
tiously  wheeled,  and  upon  reaching  the  summit  saw  the  enemy  on  a  parallel  ridge 
opposite,  who  blazed  away  at  us  with  their  gingals  or  matchlocks,  their  black  heads 
popping  up  and  down  the  while  from  the  grass,  but  only  one  spent  ball  struck  us  with 
out  any  injury.  A  piece  of  artillery  was  here  brought  up  from  the  valley  beneath  us, 
by  direction  of  Lieutenant-Commander  Cassel,  by  superhuman  exertions  on  the  part  of 
his  men,  and  several  shells  landed  among  the  enemy  grouped  on  a  knoll,  scattering  the 
party,  when  our  skirmish-line  pushed  on  down  the  narrow  range  leading  to  the  circular 
redoubt,  our  objective  point,  and  known  to  us  as  the  citadel,  being  the  third  work  of 
the  line  of  fortifications,  the  main  body  following  in  column  of  fours. 

Upon  reaching  a  point  a  third  of  a  mile  from  this  work,  a  general  halt  was  ordered 
to  rest  the  men,  who  were  greatly  fatigued  after  their  comparatively  short,  although  ex 
tremely  deep,  march ;  the  topography  of  the  country  being  indescribable,  resembling  a 
sort  of  chopped  sea,  of  immense  hills  and  deep  ravines  lying  in  every  conceivable  posi 
tion.  We  then  advanced  cautiously,  with  our  line  of  skirmishers  parallel  to  the  right 
face  of  the  redoubt,  which  was  our  point  of  attack,  concealed  from  view  from  the 
enemy,  and  took  position  along  the  crest  of  a  hill  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from 
him,  closing  intervals  to  one  pace  from  the  right  skirmishers,  the  line  extending  along 
the  ridge,  our  right  resting  in  a  path  leading  to  the  redoubt,  upon  which  were  placed 
about  twenty-five  banners  in  single  file,  a  few  feet  apart,  and  at  right  angles  to  our 
line,  the  first  banner  being  only  four  paces  from  our  right  skirmishers.  Thirty  paces  in 
front  of  us  was  another  ridge,  parallel  to  the  one  we  now  occupied,  but  in  order  to  reach 
it,  the  whole  line  would  be  exposed  to  view.  The  main  body  came  up  and  formed 
•close  behind  us.  The  banners  seemed  to  be  a  decoy,  and  several  of  us  went  from  our 
right,  took  about  fifteen  of  them,  which  drew  a  tremendous  hail  of  bullets  from  the 
redoubt,  which  relaxed  in  half  a  minute,  when  away  we  pushed,  availing  ourselves  of 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  197 

the  opportunity  to  get  to  the  next  ridge,  accomplishing  the  move  with  the  loss  of  only 
one  man,  a  Marine  from  the  United  States  ship  Alaska,  although  for  several  seconds 
exposed  to  a  galling  fire,  which  recommenced  immediately  after  the  rush  began. 

Our  lines  were  now  only  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  from  the  redoubt,  but  the 
abrupt  slope  of  the  hill  and  the  weeds  covered  us  very  well. 

The  firing  now  commenced  rapidly  from  both  sides ;  ours  increasing  as  the  men 
settled  comfortably,  and  their  fire  was  effective,  as  the  forty  or  fifty  killed  and  wounded 
inside  the  redoubts  show.  The  firing  continued  for  only  a  few  minutes,  say  four, 
amidst  the  melancholy  songs  of  the  enemy,  their  bearing  being  courageous  in  the  ex 
treme,  and  they  exposed  themselves  as  far  as  the  waist  above  the  parapet  fearlessly ; 
and  as  little  parties  of  our  forces  advanced  closer  and  closer  down  the  steep  ravine  be 
tween  us,  some  of  them  mounted  the  parapet  and  threw  stones,  etc.,  at  us,  uttering  the 
while  exclamations  seemingly  of  defiance.  One  of  these  little  parties  of  our  forces,  the 
very  first  to  enter  the  redoubt,  was  led  by  our  beloved  messmate,  the  heroic,  the  brave 
McKee,  who  fell  pierced  with  a  bullet  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  on  the  ramparts. 

The  yellow  cotton  flag,  about  twelve  feet  square,  with  a  large  Chinese  character  in 
"black  on  the  centre,  thus  "  B.  T.,"  which  flew  over  the  fort,  was  captured  by  the 
Marines.  It  was  torn  down  by  Corporal  Brown,  of  the  Colorado's  guard,  by  my  direc 
tion,  while  private  Purvis,  of  the  Alaska's  guard,  had  his  hands  on  the  halliards  a 
second  or  two  before  any  one  else,  and  deserves  the  credit  of  the  capture. 

Corporal  Brown  deserves  equally  with  him  to  be  honorably  mentioned  for  his  cool 
ness  and  courage.  The  command,  to  a- man,  acted  in  a  very  creditable  manner;  all  de 
serve  equal  mention.  The  officers  of  Marines  were  Lieutenants  Breese,  Mullany,  and 
McDonald,  who  were  always  to  be  found  in  the  front. 

The  wounded  were  soon  attended  to  by  the  surgeon's  corps,  who  removed  them  to 
the  Monocacy,  lying  in  the  stream.  The  place  was  occupied  all  Sunday  night,  the 
artillery  being  posted  on  the  heights,  and  commanding  the  rear  approaches,  the  men 
bivouacking  with  their  companies  on  the  hills.  Early  Monday  morning  the  entire  force 
re-embarked  on  board  the  Monocacy,  the  Marines  being  the  last  to  leave. 

The  re-embarkation  was  accomplished  in  a  masterly  manner,  in  the  space  of  an  hour, 
no  confusion  whatever  occurring,  although  the  current  was  very  strong,  the  rise  of  the 
tide  being  nearly  twenty  feet.  The  Monocacy  then  steamed  to  the  fleet,  some  ten 
miles  below,  where  we  all  rejoined  our  respective  ships. 

Of  the  Marines,  there  was  one  killed  and  one  severely  wounded,  the  first  being 
Private  Dennis  Harrigan,  of  the  Benicia,  and  the  wounded  man  Private  Michael  Owen, 
of  the  Colorado,  shot  through  the  groin  as  he  was  charging  towards  the  redoubt,  falling 
about  forty  paces  from  the  parapet.  The  accoutrements  and  arms  of  the  guard  of  this 
ship  were  returned,  and  no  loss  of  property  occurred.  The  expenditure  of  ammunition 
-was  sixteen  hundred  cartridges,  about  forty  rounds  to  each  man.  .  .  . 


198  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

1871-74. — Services  in  Boston — Panama — The   Delaide — Review  at  Key  West — The 
Grade  of  Brigadier-General  abolished. 

DURING  the  great  fire  in  Boston,  which  broke  out  on  the  night  of  the 
pth  of  November,  1872,  the  city  authorities  called  on  the  commandant 
at  the  Navy- Yard  for  a  force  of  Marines  to  aid  the  police  in  maintaining 
the  peace,  and  preventing  the  wholesale  robbery  that  was  threatened  by 
gangs  of  thieves  who  swarmed  to  the  city.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones, 
commanding  the  post,  placed  the  command  of  the  force  detailed,  in 
answer  to  the  request,  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Richard  S.  Collum. 
Between  one  and  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  Captain 
Collum  started  for  the  scene  of  duty  with  his  detachment,  consisting  of 
First  Lieutenants  William  Wallace,  George  M.  Welles,  three  sergeants, 
two  corporals,  and  nineteen  privates.  He  marched  directly  to  the  City 
Hall,  and,  upon  arrival,  reported  to  the  Hon.  William  Gaston,  mayor, 
for  such  duty  as  he  might  require.  Captain  Collum  was  directed  to 
march  to  the  scene  of  the  conflagration,  with  discretionary  power  to  act 
as  he  might  think  best  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  the  public  safety. 
At  2  o'clock  A.M.  the  force  arrived  at  the  point  where  their  services  were 
required.  At  6  A.M.,  First  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Sherburne  reported  with 
a  detachment  of  fifteen  men  from  the  United  States  ship  Ohio.  The 
Marines  remained  on  duty  until  noon,  when,  the  State  militia  having 
arrived,  they  returned  to  the  barracks.  In  his  report  of  the  affair,  Cap 
tain  Collum  said,  "  1  would  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  the  noble 
and  gallant  conduct  of  the  men,  who  were  placed  in  situations  of  extreme 
peril,  and,  by  their  steadiness  and  firmness  in  executing  the  orders  given 
them,  prevented  confusion  among  the  crowd  of  by-standers,  and  saved 
many  lives.  To  First  Lieutenants  William  Wallace,  George  M.  Welles, 
and  John  H.  Sherburne  great  praise  is  due  for  their  untiring  exertions 
in  the  performance  of  their  duty.  Always  ready,  willing,  and  prompt, 
their  conduct  merits  my  hearty  commendation." 

At  2  o'clock  P.M.,  on  the  nth,  Captain  Collum  received  orders  to 
take  command  of  two  companies  of  thirty  men  each,  commanded  by  First 
Lieutenant  William  Wallace  and  Orderly  Sergeant  Francis  Groll,  and 
proceed  to  the  subtreasury  for  further  orders.  Upon  arrival,  he  was 
ordered  to  guard  the  removal  of  government  funds  from  that  building  to 
the  custom-house.  After  performing  that  duty,  he  returned  with  the 
command  to  the  barracks.  At  5  o'clock  P.M.,  of  the  same  date,  he 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  199 

was  ordered  to  take  command  of  a  detachment,  consisting  of  one  sergeant, 
one  corporal,  and  twenty-two  privates,  and  report  to  Postmaster  William 
L.  Burt  for  duty.  First  Lieutenant  William  Wallace  was  detailed  to 
accompany  him.  As  soon  as  they  arrived,  quarters  were  assigned  them 
in  the  post-office  building,  the  rear  of  which  was  much  damaged  by  the 
fire,  thereby  exposing  a  large  amount  of  public  property  to  the  depreda 
tions  of  the  lawless  persons  then  in  the  city.  Sentinels  were  posted  in 
the  most  exposed  positions  with  loaded  muskets,  and  this  duty  was  con 
tinued  for  several  days.  In  closing  his  report,  Captain  Collum  says,  "I 
cannot  mention  too  highly  the  valuable  aid  and  important  services  ren 
dered  by  First  Lieutenant  Wallace  throughout  the  whole  arduous  duties 
we  have  performed,  and  the  uniformly  good  conduct  of  the  men  under 
very  trying  circumstances." 

Postmaster  Burt  addressed  a  letter  to  Colonel  Jones,  after  the  fire,  in 
which  he  said,  "  I  desire  to  convey  to  Captain  Collum  and  Brevet  Cap 
tain  Wallace  of  your  command,  and  the  men  under  them,  who  were  as 
signed  at  my  request  as  a  guard  to  the  subtreasury  and  post-office  during 
the  week  of  the  great  fire,  my  thanks  for  the  service  they  rendered  us. 
They  remained  without  relief  from  Monday  to  Saturday  night.  Their 
discipline  and  soldierly  bearing  were  marked,  and  they  performed  their 
duties  thoroughly,  gaining  great  credit  from  all  our  citizens."  General 
Zeilin,  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  Colonel  Jones's  report,  says,  "I 
have  to  say  that  the  conduct  of  those  comprising  the  detachment  is  a 
matter  of  pride  and  gratification  to  me.  I  had  learned  from  other 
sources  of  the  discipline  and  soldierly  conduct,  as  well  as  of  the  efficient 
aid  rendered  by  the  detachment,  on  this  occasion,  and  I  desire  you  will 
•extend  to  Captain  Collum,  Lieutenants  Wallace  and  Welles,  as  also  to 
the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the  detachment,  my  thanks 
and  most  complimentary  recognition  of  their  services.  And  I  further 
desire  to  say,  that  the  promptitude  displayed  in  responding  to  the  call  for 
the  services  of  the  Marines,  and  their  efficiency  and  discipline  in  ren 
dering  such  service,  speak  most  highly  for  the  energy  and  zeal  of  their 
commanding  officer." 

1873. — At  the  time  of  the  destructive  fire  in  Boston,  May  30,  when 
the  famous  Globe  Theatre  and  other  valuable  buildings  were  burned,  the 
city  authorities  again  called  on  the  Marines  for  aid ;  and  in  obedience  to 
an  order  received  by  Colonel  Jones  from  Commodore  Parrott,  com 
mandant  of  the  station,  Captain  Collum  assumed  command  of  a  detach 
ment,  consisting  of  First  Lieutenant  William  Wallace,  Second  Lieutenants 
J.  C.  Shailer  and  J.  T.  Brodhead,  four  sergeants,  three  corporals,  and 
fifty-nine  privates,  and  proceeded  to  the  City  Hall,  where  orders  were 
received  from  the  Hon.  H.  L.  Pierce,  mayor.  At  2  o'clock  P.M. 
the  detachment  was  reinforced  by  fifteen  men  from  the  guard  of  the 
United  States  ship  Ohio,  under  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  J.  H- 


2OO  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Sherburne ;  also  twenty-one  men  from  the  guard  of  the  United  States 
ship  Powhatan,  in  charge  of  a  sergeant.  At  3  o'clock  P.M.  they 
were  relieved  by  a  detachment  of  the  Fifth  Artillery  until  5  o'clock  p.M.r 
when  they  again  went  on  duty  and  remained  until  the  next  morning. 
The  streets  within  their  lines  were  thoroughly  patrolled  during  the  night, 
and  the  utmost  vigilance  was  observed.  Captain  Collum  thus  closes  his. 
report  to  Colonel  Jones  :  "  With  great  gratification,  I  respectfully  present 
for  your  favorable  consideration  the  men  of  the  command,  who  won  the 
respect  of  all  by  their  uniformly  good  conduct,  vigilance,  and  soldierly 
bearing.  To  First  Lieutenants  William  Wallace  and  J.  H.  Sherburne 
and  Second  Lieutenants  J.  C.  Shailer  and  J.  T.  Brodhead  my  hearty 
thanks  are  due  for  their  promptitude  and  the  able  manner  with  which 
they  conducted  the  arduous  duties  assigned  them." 

General  Zeilin  expressed  great  satisfaction  on  the  receipt  of  Colonel 
Jones's  report,  and  wrote  to  that  officer  as  follows :  "  It  affords  me  great 
satisfaction  to  express  to  you  my  thanks  for  the  uniform  good  conduct 
and  promptitude  of  the  men  under  your  command.  On  all  occasions,, 
when  called  upon,  have  they  maintained  the  past  renown  of  the  Corps. 
You  will  please  express  to  Captain  Collum,  the  officers  and  men  in  his 
charge,  my  thanks  for  the  good  conduct,  vigilance,  and  soldierly  bearing 
displayed  by  them  on  all  occasions."  The  city  government  of  Boston 
officially  recognized  the  services  of  the  Marines,  and  Mayor  Pierce  sent 
the  following  to  Commodore  Parrott :  "I  have  great  pleasure  in  com 
plying  with  the  request  of  the  City  Council  to  communicate  to  you  the 
thanks  of  the  city  government  and  citizens  of  Boston  for  the  very  valu 
able  services  rendered  by  Captain  Richard  S.  Collum,  Lieutenants  William 
Wallace,  J.  H.  Sherburne,  J.  C.  Shailer,  and  J.  T.  Brodhead,  and  men 
under  their  command  attached  to  the  Marine  Corps,  in  preserving  order 
and  protecting  property  during  and  after  the  fire." 

Rear-Admiral  Steadman,  on  arriving  at  Panama,  May  7,  1873,  found 
hostilities  in  progress  between  the  opposing  parties  contending  for 
possession  of  the  government  of  the  state  of  Panama,  and,  at  the  request 
of  the  United  States  consul  and  a  number  of  influential  American  and 
other  foreign  citizens,  sent  on  shore  a  force  of  two  hundred  Marines  and 
sailors,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery.  A  portion  of  this  force  was  with 
drawn  on  the  nth,  and  the  remainder  on  the  22d,  all  differences  having 
been  settled.  A  second  landing  was  made  September  24,  under  the 
orders  of  Rear-Admiral  Almy,  the  revolutionary  movements  having  been 
renewed.  A  force  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  Marines  and  sailors,  well 
armed  and  equipped,  was  landed,  and  was  afterwards  increased  to  one 
hundred  and  ninety  men.  Detachments  were  posted  to  protect  the 
American  consulate,  and  other  American  houses  and  American  property. 
The  landing  parties  were  from  the  Pensacola  and  Benicia,  the  latter  vessel 
belonging  to  the  North  Pacific  Station.  Hostilities  ceased  October  8, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  201 

and  the  force  was  withdrawn,  excepting  a  detachment  of  thirty  men, 
which  was  left  a  few  days  longer,  to  guard  the  depot  and  the  railroad, 
should  the  troubles  revive.  The  landing  of  these  detachments  during 
the  two  emergencies,  while  quieting  the  fears  of  foreign  residents,  secured 
the  safe  transit  of  the  passengers  and  their  effects,  and  of  the  freight  and 
specie  of  four  lines  of  steamers,  two  of  which  were  not  of  our  nationality, 
depending  on  this  road  for  prompt  transportation.  The  officers  and 
men  who  composed  the  landing  parties  received  the  commendation  of 
their  respective  commanders-in-chief  for  the  creditable  and  admirable 
manner  in  which  they  discharged  their  duty.  The  detachment  of  Marines, 
numbering  twenty-two,  was  under  the  command  of  Second  Lieutenant 
James  D'Hervilly. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  the  Delaide,  an  Italian  merchant  vessel,  lying  in 
the  harbor  of  Callao,  Peru,  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire.  The  flames 
gained  such  headway  that  her  crew  were  powerless  to  overcome  them. 
As  the  vessel  was  loaded  with  explosive  and  combustible  materials,  it  was 
feared  that  the  shipping  in  the  crowded  harbor  would  be  greatly  damaged, 
and  possibly  many  lives  lost,  unless  the  progress  of  the  flames  could  be 
checked.  At  this  juncture  several  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  United 
States  ship  St.  Mary's  volunteered  their  assistance.  Among  these  was 
Captain  P.  C.  Pope,  fleet-marine  officer  of  the  squadron.  The  volun 
teers  were  entirely  successful  in  extinguishing  the  flames ;  not,  however, 
without  severe  exertion  and  great  danger.  Captain  Pope,  with  the  other 
officers,  was  the  recipient  of  a  letter  of  thanks  from  the  Minister  of  for 
eign  affairs  of  Italy,  by  order  of  the  king,  for  his  distinguished  services 
on  that  occasion.  This  was  transmitted  to  him  in  a  complimentary 
letter  from  the  Navy  Department,  accompanied  by  the  following  letter 
from  Admiral  Almy,  addressed  to  Captain  Pope  personally  :  "  It  affords 
me  much  gratification  to  transmit  to  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Italian 
Minister  at  Washington  to  the  Department  of  State,  conveying  the 
thanks  of  the  Italian  government  to  yourself  and  other  officers  for  gal 
lant  and  skilful  services  rendered  on  the  occasion  of  a  fire  on  board  of 
the  Italian  bark  Delaide,  in  the  port  of  Callao,  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1873.  I  wiH  ta^e  tnis  occasion  to  add,  that  no  more  agreeable  duty  can 
ever  fall  to  the  lot  of  a  true  naval  or  Marine  officer  than  that  of  relieving 
those  who  may  be  in  imminent  danger  of  shipwreck  and  destruction, 
to  whatsoever  nation  they  may  belong.  Under  such  circumstances  the 
genuine  man,  of  whatever  profession  he  may  be,  knows  no  nationality. 
To  him,  all  belong  to  the  same  family.  These  sentiments  seem  to  have 
actuated  you  in  your  spirited  behavior  upon  the  occasion  of  the  fire  on 
board  of  the  Italian  bark  Delaide." 

1874. — On  the  24th  of  January,  1874,  the  harbor  of  Key  West, 
Florida,  presented  an  unusual  scene.  There  was  assembled  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  imposing  fleets  since  the  great  fleet  of  Admiral  Porter 


2O2  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

in  1864.  Vessels  had  been  recalled  from  the  different  squadrons  in  an 
ticipation  of  war  with  Spain,  growing  out  of  the  Virginius  affair.  This 
difficulty  having  been  settled,  it  was  determined,  before  ordering  the 
vessels  to  their  stations,  to  exercise  the  fleet  in  squadron  tactics,  apply 
the  teachings  of  the  torpedo  system,  landing  in  surf-boats,  target  prac 
tice,  and  exercise  the  Marines  of  the  fleet  in  battalion  movements  on  the 
island,  under  the  command  of  the  fleet-marine  officer,  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Charles  Heywood. 

The  Marines  were  landed  in  conjunction  with  the  sailors  of  the  fleet, 
and  on  several  occasions  by  themselves.  A  large  number  of  citizens 
from  different  parts  of  the  country  assembled  at  Key  West,  as  well  as 
many  officers  of  the  army  and  Navy,  to  witness  these  drills  on  sea  and 
land.  The  sailors  exhibited  remarkable  proficiency,  and  the  battalion 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Heywood  won  the  applause,  not  only  of 
civilians,  but  of  the  officers  of  the  two  services.  The  precision  in 
marching,  the  physique  of  the  men,  the  evolutions,. and  the  perfection  in 
the  manual  delighted  the  distinguished  veterans  who  were  there  as 
spectators.  The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  battalion  : 

Captain  and  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  Heywood,  colonel ; 
Captain  George  W.  Collier,  lieutenant-colonel  ;  Captain  Frank  Munroe, 
major;  Lieutenant  William  F.  Zeilin,  adjutant;  Dr.  Robert  A.  Mar- 
mion,  surgeon;  George  A.  Deering,  paymaster.  Company  A:  Captain 
W.  R.  Brown,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  cor 
porals  and  privates.  Company  B  :  Captain  W.  B.  Remey,  four  sergeants, 
one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates.  Company 
C  :  First  Lieutenant  and  Brevet  Captain  G.  B.  Haycock,  five  sergeants, 
one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates.  Company 
D  :  First  Lieutenant  E.  R.  Robinson,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one 
fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates.  Company  E  :  First  Lieutenant 
F.  H.  Harrington,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight 
corporals  and  privates.  Company  F :  Second  Lieutenant  G.  C.  Good- 
loe,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and 
privates.  Company  G  :  Second  Lieutenant  B.  R.  Russell,  four  sergeants, 
one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates.  Company 
H  :  Second  Lieutenant  R.  D.  Wainwright,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer, 
one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates.  Company  I :  Second  Lieu 
tenant  F.  Scott,  four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight 
corporals  and  privates.  Company  K:  Second  Lieutenant  D.  Whipple, 
four  sergeants,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-eight  corporals  and  privates. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1874,  the  grade  of  brigadier-general  was  abolished, 
and  it  was  provided  that  "  thereafter  the  commandant  shall  have  the 
rank  and  pay  of  a  colonel,  and  shall  be  appointed  by  selection  by  the 
President  from  the  officers  of  said  corps." 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  203 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

1877. — The  Labor  Riots — Services  of  the  First  Battalion.* 

IN  1877,  tne  terrible  and  unprecedented  labor  riots,  which  paralyzed 
business  in  nine  States,  and  led  to  wholesale  arson  and  murder,  culmi 
nating  in  Pittsburg,  called  all  of  the  available  regular  forces  into  the 
field. 

Colonel  Charles  G.  McCawley,  commandant  of  the  corps,  received 
orders  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  at  3  A.M.  of  Saturday,  the  2ist  of 
July,  to  have  all  the  marines  available  in  Washington  ready  to  move 
to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  at  a  movement's  notice.  The  following  was 
the  strength  of  the  battalion  at  this  time: 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  Heywood,  commanding;  First 
Lieutenant,  B.  R.  Russell,  adjutant. 

Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  A.  M.  Owen,  United  States  Navy ;  Passed 
Assistant-Surgeon  T.  D.  Myers,  United  States  Navy ;  Captain  G.  W.  Col 
lier,  First  Lieutenant  Aulick  Palmer,  Second  Lieutenant  W.  S.  Schenck, 
Second  Lieutenant  J.  T.  Brodhead,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  and  privates. 

At  6  P.M.  orders  came  to  proceed  to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Depot, 
and  take  a  special  train  for  Camden  Station,  Baltimore.  With  great 
alacrity  the  battalion  marched  to  the  depot,  to  learn  that  no  engineer 
could  be  obtained  to  run  the  locomotive.  After  a  delay  of  an  hour,  a 
man  was  found  who  said  that  he  would  undertake  it  if  promised  protec 
tion.  Threats  were  made  that  the  troops  would  not  be  permitted  to 
leave  the  city.  Lieutenant  Russell  and  ten  men  were  placed  upon  the 
engine  and  tender  with  loaded  rifles,  and  instructions  to  shoot  any  one 
who  attempted  to  interfere  with  the  train  in  the  slightest  degree.  In  five 
minutes  the  force  was  embarked  and  the  cars  moving.  An  instant  later, 
three  torpedoes  exploded  under  the  locomotive  and  caused  a  momentary 
sensation ;  but  the  mob  fell  back  and  contented  itself  with  shouting. 
Meantime,  the  train  proceeded  very  cautiously,  stopping  at  way-stations 
to  receive  advices  from  the  authorities  in  Baltimore,  who  were  fearful  of 
surprise  or  accident.  At  the  bridges  it  was  halted,  and  the  structures 
examined  before  attempting  to  cross  ;  scouts  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre 
suspected  localities,  and  upon  entering  the  city  all  the  lights  were  ex- 

*  Captain  Cochrane  in  United  Service  Magazine. 


2O4  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

tinguished,  and  the  train  stole  quietly  up  to  a  point  within  a  square  of  its 
destination.     Before  starting,  the  following  despatch  was  sent : 

WASHINGTON  DEPOT,  July  21,  1877. 

GOVERNOR  CARROLL,  CITY  HALL,  BALTIMORE,  MARYLAND  : 
Will  leave  immediately  for  Baltimore  with  Marines. 

COLONEL  HEYWOOD, 

Commanding  Battalion. 

And  upon  reaching  the  Relay  House  the  governor  was  notified  of  their 
safe  arrival.     There  Colonel  Heywood  found  three  despatches,  as  follows  : 

(i)  CAMDEN  STATION,  July  21,  1877. 

COMMANDER  TROOPS  ON  TROOP  TRAIN: 

Better  be  prepared  for  action  between  Relay  House  and  Camden  Station. 

T.  FITZGERALD. 

(2) 

COMMANDER  TROOP  TRAIN  : 

Hold  train  till  F.  O.  T.  FITZGERALD. 

(3) 

COLONEL  HEYWOOD,  COMMANDING  MARINES: 

Come  to  Camden  Station  as  soon  as  possible.     Report  to  General  Herbert. 

JOHN  LEE  CARROLL, 

Governor. 

Upon  receipt  of  the  last  the  trains  continued,  and  arrived  without  acci 
dent  at   11.30  P.M.     An  aid  of  Governor  Carroll's  met  them  with  the 

following  letter : 

BALTIMORE,  July  21,  1877. 
COLONEL  HEYWOOD,  COMMANDING  MARINES: 

SIR, — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  despatch  announcing  the  departure  of  the  Marines,  and 
have  to  request,  on  arrival,  that  they  proceed  to  Fort  McHenry,  to  support  General 
Barry's  Artillery  in  case  it  should  be  called  to  the  city.  Colonel  Gilmor  will  deliver 
this  note,  and  will  furnish  you  any  further  information  you  may  require. 

I  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  LEE  CARROLL, 

Governor. 

With  this  document  came  verbal  orders  to  disperse  the  mob  around 
the  depot,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  the  battalion  was  advancing  in 
double  time,  and  the  turbulent  rabble,  which  for  hours  had  been  cheering 
the  strikers,  hissing  the  police,  and  groaning  the  railroad  company,  was 
fleeing  before  it.  The  police,  who  behaved  gallantly,  charged  almost 
simultaneously  and  captured  over  a  hundred  of  the  principals,  which 
made  their  prisoners  for  the  day  aggregate  upward  of  three  hundred. 
The  Marines  then  marched  around  the  station,  clearing  all  of  its  ap 
proaches  simply  by  their  advent,  and  after  a  short  halt  again  started  for 
the  enemy,  guided  by  a  detail  of  policemen  and  detectives.  For  several 
hours  the  battalion  marched  through  the  worst  portions  of  the  city  with- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  205 

out  molestation.  Not  a  stone  or  brick  was  thrown,  and  the  crowds 
broke  upon  its  approach,  which  was  an  agreeable  surprise.  At  last  it 
halted  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  McHenry,  where  they  found  Brevet  Major- 
General  W.  F.  Barry,  United  States  army,  with  Ramsay's  battery  of  the 
Second  Artillery  awaiting  them.  The  battalion  faced  about,  and  after 
being  so  disposed,  with  skirmishers  ahead  and  on  the  flanks,  as  to  have 
the  two  pieces  of  artillery  guarded  on  all  sides,  marched  back  to  the  Camden 
depot,  which  was  reached  at  3.30  A.M.  The  fire-bells  had  been  ringing 
nearly  all  night,  and  the  sky  was  lighted  by  the  blaze  of  burning  build 
ings,  cars,  and  lumber-yards.  When  the  rioters  were  driven  away  from 
the  depot  it  was  not  believed  that  their  deviltry  had  been  entirely 
checked,  and  so  it  proved.  They  had  resorted  to  the  torch. 

At  four  o'clock  Company  A,  Captain  Collier  and  Lieutenant  Schenck, 
was  detailed  to  go  to  Mount  Clair  Station,  the  principal  oil  and  cattle 
depot  of  the  road,  and  disperse  a  mob  which  was  burning  oil-trains.  A 
locomotive  with  two  passenger  cars  was  placed  at  its  disposal ;  and 
Colonel  Harry  Gilmor,  police  commissioner,  accompanied  as  a  guide  and 
representative  of  the  municipality.  A  dozen  men  were  stationed  in  the 
cab  and  on  the  engine,  with  the  usual  orders  about  obstruction  of  the 
road  or  interference  with  the  train.  The  crowd  at  the  depot  threatened 
to  shoot  the  engineer,  and  swore  that  the  train  should  never  reach  Mount 
Clair;  but  it  did.  At  Camden  Junction,  one  mile  from  Mount  Clair, 
several  thousand  noisy  and  excited  men  and  women  were  found  collected 
about  some  burning  oil-cars,  but  they  gave  way  to  the  Marines,  who,  de 
ploying  as  skirmishers,  drove  the  rioters  back  to  the  Frederick  road,  and 
then  pulled  apart  the  consuming  trains.  They  were  insolent  and  defiant, 
but  made  no  assault.  After  performing  this  duty  Captain  Collier  and  a 
part  o/  the  company  returned  and  found  a  guard  regularly  mounted,  and 
thirteen  sentry  posts  established  in  the  streets  leading  to  the  depot.  The 
men  having  been  on  duty  all  night,  with  muskets  in  their  hands  and 
blankets  over  their  shoulders,  were  marched  to  the  Eutaw  House,  at  9.30 
A.M.,  for  breakfast,  and  there  were  allowed  to  sleep  by  companies  on  the 
platforms  of  the  depot.  The  Fifth  Maryland  Regiment,  which  had  be 
haved  so  handsomely  on  the  2oth,  was  also  quartered  at  the  depot,  with 
their  wounded  in  a  hospital-car  inside  of  the  yard. 

Lieutenant  Schenck  was  left  with  thirty  men  and  six  of  the  Metro 
politan  police  to  protect  the  bridge  and  workshops  at  Camden  Junction, 
where  another  mob  was  threatening  arson.  He  succeeded  in  saving  the 
property,  and  remained  until  7.30  P.M.,  when  he  was  relieved  by  a  bat 
talion  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  artillerymen  from  New  York,  under  Major 
H.  G.  Gibson,  of  the  Third  Artillery.  Owing  to  the  threatening  de 
meanor  of  this  crowd,  Lieutenant  Schenck  was  obliged  to  keep  up  a 
cordon  of  eighteen  sentinels  and  the  utmost  vigilance,  and  several  times 
had  to  use  force  to  press  the  aggressive  rioters  back. 


206  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

At  3  A.M.,  the  following  despatch  was  received: 

WASHINGTON,  D.C.,  July  22,  1877. 
COLONEL  CHARLES  HEYWOOD,  U.S. M.C.,  BALTIMORE: 

SIR, — You  will  proceed,  by  command  of  General  Hancock,  with  the  Marines  under 
your  command  to  Philadelphia. 

R.  W.  THOMPSON, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

General  W.  S.  Hancock,  commanding  the  Division  of  the  Atlantic, 
accompanied  by  his  staff,  had  arrived  in  Baltimore  on  Sunday  morning, 
and  made  Barnum's  Hotel  his  head-quarters.  Finding  that  peace  was 
partially  restored,  and  the  police,  militia,  and  regulars,  now  represented 
by  portions  of  the  Second  and  Third  Artillery,  some  general  service 
troops  under  Lieutenant  Sage,  Eleventh  Infantry,  and  a  detachment  of 
engineers  commanded  by  Major  Abbott,  were  sufficient  to  control  the 
mobs,  it  was  decided  to  send  the  Marines  to  Philadelphia,  which  was 
now  having  its  turn  and  seriously  threatened.  It  was  desired  to  get  off 
at  daylight,  but,  for  some  cause,  the  necessary  transportation  was  not 
furnished  until  about  nine  o'clock.  This  gave  the  men  an  opportunity 
to  breakfast  and  better  prepare  them  for  the  journey.  A  special  train 
received  them,  and  at  noon  they  were  opposite  the  United  States 
Arsenal,  in  Philadelphia,  where  Officer  Taggart,  of  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  Company,  met  them,  and  reported 
to  Colonel  Heywood  that  the  track  was  torn  up  and  blockaded  on  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  to  prevent  their  passage. 

The  battalion  was  then  disembarked  and  was  soon  en  route  for  West 
Philadelphia.  It  was  met  by  large  crowds  of  roughs;  but,  as  in  Balti 
more,  they  made  way  for  the  troops,  and  contented  themselves  with 
threats.  Upon  crossing  the  Schuylkill,  an  oil-train  was  discovered  to  be 
on  fire  upon  a  branch  road  near  the  Blockley  Almshouse. 

The  rioters,  getting  word  of  the  coming  of  the  Marines,  moved  off 
towards  the  buildings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  which  caused  a 
change  to  be  made  in  the  direction  of  the  column,  which  then  drove  the 
miscreants  before*  it  as  far  as  the  new  passenger  depot,  through  which  it 
passed,  and  continued  up  the  tracks  to  the  round-house.  At  this  point 
they  climbed  the  bluff  on  the  west  side,  and,  having  stationed  a  guard, 
again  drove  back  the  crowd,  now  numbering  thousands,  to  the  first  line 
of  houses  beyond  the  Callowhill  Street  bridge.  A  line  of  pickets  was 
established,  and  the  hill-top  permanently  occupied,  as  it  is  a  commanding 
position,  overlooking  the  round-houses,  tracks,  and  depots.  About 
2  P.M.,  General  Hancock  and  staff  and  Colonel  Thomas  A.  Scott,  presi 
dent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  visited  the  bivouac,  and  inspected 
the  posts  of  the  sentinels.  The  day  was  a  very  warm  one,  and  the 
march  from  the  arsenal  so  dusty  that  the  command  presented  a  sorry 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  207 

sight.  Neither  officers  nor  men  had  their  clothes  off  since  leaving  Wash 
ington  (three  days  and  two  nights  before),  and  the  former  were  very 
much  gratified  when  some  of  the  good  people  living  within  the  lines  in 
vited  them  to  their  houses  and  tables,  and  extended  bathing  facilities. 
The  mayor  of  Philadelphia,  Hon.  W.  S.  Stokley,  and  his  chief  of 
police  also  visited  the  camp,  and  presented  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
Colonel  Heywood  from  General  Hancock,  in  which  he  was  informed  that 
in  the  event  of  further  riotous  proceedings  the  Marines  were  to  act  as  a 
posse  comitatus,  under  the  orders  of  the  mayor,  for  the  preservation  of 
the  peace.  Mr.  Stokley  cautioned  him  to  loolt  out  for  trouble  soon, 
possibly  that  night.  Here  seemed  to  be  a  fair  prospect  of  repeating  the 
Baltimore  experiences,  but  the  police  managed  several  rushes  by  the 
crowd  to  cross  the  bridge  without  asking  for  help.  The  men  slept  upon 
the  ground,  and  the  officers  upon  a  neighboring  porch,  and  next  morn 
ing  all  hands  were  wet  from  dew,  but  there  was  no  complaint.  On  the 
24th,  Brevet  Major-General  Brannan,  United  States  army,  lieutenant- 
colonel  First  Artillery,  arrived,  and  assumed  command  of  all  the  united 
forces  in  Philadelphia,  by  order  of  General  Hancock,  who  had  his  head 
quarters,  temporarily,  at  the  St.  George  Hotel,  and  three  companies  of 
the  Third  Artillery  joined  the  Marines.  Passenger  trains  ran  as  usual, 
but  no  freight  was  moved.  That  night  was  passed  as  the  previous  one, 
but  next  day  tents  began  to  arrive.  Captain  H.  B.  Lowry,  assistant 
quartermaster,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  reported  for  duty,  and  Mr. 
Geo.  W.  Childs,  with  great  kindness,  sent  each  man  a  present  of  a  pipe 
and  a  supply  of  tobacco,  and  the  officers  some  liquid  nourishment.  Mr. 
James  Paul  also  sent  for  the  medical  department  some  superior  wines, 
whiskeys,  and  brandy,  and  Colonel  Heywood  received  the  following  very 
encouraging  despatch : 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  PHILADELPHIA,  July  25,  1877. 
COLONEL  HEYWOOD,  COMMANDING  UNITED  STATES  MARINES,  MARINE  CAMP,  WEST 

PHILADELPHIA  : 

Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  in  the  way  of  commissary  supplies  or  other  matters 
to  make  your  command  comfortable  ?  You  have  performed  important  services,  which 
I  shall  recognize  in  a  proper  manner  when  I  find  more  time. 

HANCOCK, 
Major-  General. 

On  the  26th  fifty-five  "A"  tents  were  received,  and  were  at  once 
pitched  in  regular  order,  giving  much  needed  shelter  from  the  scorching 
sun,  and  the  camp  was  christened  "  Camp  Scott." 

On  the  27th,  Lieutenants  C.  P.  Porter  and  R.  D.  Wainwright,  with  a 
company  of  fifty-four  men,  joined  the  battalion  through  a  misapprehen 
sion  in  issuing  orders,  as  they  were  intended  for  the  Washington  Arsenal. 
General  Hancock,  therefore,  ordered  them  back  as  far  as  Baltimore  to 
report  to  General  Barry.  The  admirable  behavior  of  the  men  had  now 


2o8  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

become  a  subject  of  remark,  particularly  as  up  to  this  time  all  hands  were 
confined  most  stringently  to  the  limits  of  the  camp  with  arduous  patrol 
and  guard  duties.  The  city  police  guarded  the  front  of  the  depot,  with 
orders  to  call  on  the  Marines  if  they  needed  assistance,  and  their  deter 
mined  conduct,  backed  by  the  moral  effect  of  the  presence  of  the  artillery 
and  Marines,  no  doubt  prevented  any  further  outbreak.  A  mass-meeting 
of  workingmen,  advertised  to  be  held  in  Kensington,  on  Saturday  night, 
the  28th  of  July,  was  such  a  failure  that  it  virtually  marked  the  end  of 
the  strikes  in  Philadelphia. 

On  the  ist  of  August  the  only  disorder  remaining  in  Pennsylvania  was 
in  the  coal  regions,  and  the  troops  stationed  at  Reading,  fifty-eight  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  being  needed  there,  it  was  determined  to  relieve  them 
with  Marines. 

Colonel  Heywood  was  thereupon  ordered  to  provide  his  command 
with  ten  days'  rations  and  two  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  pro 
ceed  to  that  point  by  special  train. 

A  ride  of  two  hours  up  the  valley  of  the  Schuylkill  brought  them  to 
Reading,  where  they  were  warmly  welcomed.  The  men  were  quartered 
in  some  sheds  attached  to  the  railroad  buildings,  and  the  officers  were 
allowed  to  retain  the  Pullman  car  in  which  they  came,  and  that  night 
obtained  the  first  really  good  sound  sleep  since  leaving  Washington. 

The  following  day,  the  principal  men  of  the  community,  including  the 
mayor,  the  Hon.  Heister  Clymer,  member  of  Congress,  and  Mr.  G.  A. 
Nichols,  vice-president  of  the  Reading  Railroad,  called  upon  the  officers 
and  bade  them  welcome.  At  sundown  the  dress-parade  drew  thousands 
of  visitors  to  the  camp  at  the  depot,  and  public  curiosity  seemed  unable 
to  satisfy  itself.  Every  evening  witnessed  the  same  ceremony,  and  the 
interest  and  attendance  increased  until  the  local  papers  estimated  the 
numbers  present  "as  high  as  five  thousand."  The  routine  as  to  fatigue 
duties,  formations,  inspections,  roll-calls,  etc.,  was  almost  as  minutely 
conformed  to  as  in  permanent  garrison,  and  it  was,  without  question, 
this  strict  discipline  which  gained  the  battalion  such  substantial  and 
gratifying  recognition  from  the  people  and  from  the  military  authorities. 

At  the  head-quarters  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Atlantic  it  was 
never  lost  sight  of.  Before  getting  fairly  settled  the  following  telegram 

•came: 

PHILADELPHIA,  August  3,  1877. 
COLONEL  HEYWOOD,  COMMANDING  MARINES,  READING,  PENNSYLVANIA  : 

If  I  can  assist  you  in  procuring  supplies  of  clothing,  medicine,  ammunition,  or  any 
•other  supplies  you  may  stand  in  need  of,  let  me  know,  and  I  will  be  glad  to  do  so. 

HANCOCK, 
Major-  General. 

Colonel  Heywood  replied,  "  I  am  not  in  want  of  supplies  of  any  kind 
at  present.  If  I  should  need  anything  I  shall  accept  your  kind  offer." 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  209 

A  few  days  after  this,  Colonel  and  Surgeon  John  M.  Cuyler,  of  General 
Hancock's  staff,  and  medical  director  of  the  division,  visited  the  battalion 
to  inquire  into  its  comfort  and  wants,  by  order  of  the  general,  whose 
distinguished  kindness  and  solicitude  for  the  Marines  at  all  times  while 
under  his  command,  as  well  as  his  subsequent  most  generous  appreciation 
of  their  services  in  the  official  papers  which  are  to  follow,  will  long  be 
remembered.  Dr.  Cuyler  examined  the  temporary  hospital,  its  con 
veniences,  stores,  appliances,  etc.,  very  carefully,  but  found  no  patients. 
He  also  inspected  the  men  and  their  quarters,  including  an  improvised 
bath-room  in  a  tent,  the  cooking  utensils,  and  arrangements,  and  said 
that  everything  was  scrupulously  clean  and  neat,  and  that  he  had 
nothing  to  suggest. 

On  the  1 2th,  General  Hancock  again  manifested  his  deep  interest  by 
sending  General  Easton,  the  quartermaster-general  of  the  division,  to 
Heading,  to  see  if  he  could  do  anything  for  the  Marines ;  owing,  how 
ever,  to  the  admirable  arrangements  in  the  quartermaster's  department, 
by  Captain  Lowry,  he  found  them  in  need  of  nothing, — contented  and 
happy.  On  the  i3th,  Colonel  Heywood  was  officially  informed  that 
•"  the  division  commander  intends  to  express  in  formal  orders,  before 
you  are  relieved  at  Reading,  his  high  appreciation  of  the  valuable  services 
and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  your  command.  Should  his 
intention  through  accident  not  be  acted  on  before  your  departure,  it  will 
only  be  delayed  for  a  brief  period." 

The  organization  of  this  battalion  was  as  follows :  Major  and  Brevet 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  Heywood,  commanding;  First  Lieutenant 
B.  R.  Russell,  adjutant ;  Captain  and  Assistant-Quartermaster  H.  B. 
Lowry,  quartermaster ;  Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  A.  M.  Owen,  surgeon  ; 
Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  T.  D.  Myers,  assistant  surgeon ;  J.  W.  Herbert, 
first-class  apothecary;  First  Sergeant  Charles  Lombardy,  surgeon-major  ; 
Sergeant  Henry  Ulean,  quartermaster-sergeant. 

Company  A:  Captain  George  W.  Collier,  commanding;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  W.  S.  Schenck,  three  sergeants,  five  corporals,  one  drummer,  one 
fifer,  and  twenty-nine  privates.  Total,  thirty-nine. 

Company  B :  First  Lieutenant  Aulick  Palmer,  commanding ;  Second 
Lieutenant  J.  T.  Brodhead,  three  sergeants,  four  corporals,  and  thirty 
privates.  Total,  thirty-seven. 

Company  C :  First  Lieutenant  A.  C.  Kelton,  commanding ;  Second 
Lieutenant  Jesup  Nicholson,  two  sergeants,  four  corporals,  and  thirty- 
one  privates.  Total,  thirty-seven. 

Upon  leaving  Reading  it  was  difficult  to  discover  upon  which  side  the 
regret  was  greater.  A  short  and  sudden  campaign,  begun  in  danger, 
privation,  and  fatigue,  had  ended  in  security  and  rest.  The  citizens  of 
Pennsylvania  had  treated  the  strangers  so  well  that  in  their  behalf  each 
man  would  have  fought  as  three.  The  approbation  of  all  superior  officers 


2io  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

had  been  won,  the  railroad  authorities  had  been  hospitable  and  attentive, 
in  every  quarter  they  had  met  with  appreciation  and  commendation,  and, 
although  in  triumph  returning,  they  were  yet  sorry,  as  soldiers,  that 
"  the  strikers'  war"  was  over. 

Before  the  departure  of  the  First  Battalion  from  Reading,  Colonel 
Heywood  and  his  command  received  the  following  complimentary  order 
from  head-quarters : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  ATLANTIC, 

NEW  YORK  CITY,  August  13,  1877. 
GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  46. 

The  Marines  now  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  under  command  of  Colonel  Heywood, 
when  relieved  by  the  detachment  of  United  States  artillery,  ordered  there  for  that  pur 
pose,  will  proceed  to  the  Marine  Barracks,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  reporting 
to  the  proper  naval  authorities.  The  major-general  commanding  desires  to  express  his 
high  appreciation  of  the  excellent  conduct  and  soldierly  qualities  of  the  Marines  during 
the  entire  period  of  the  recent  disorders.  Citizens  and  soldiers  are  united  in  admiration 
of  the  soldierly  bearing,  excellent  discipline,  and  devotion  to  duty  displayed  by  them 
while  at  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  Reading.  A  copy  of  this  order  will  be  forwarded 
to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  that  he  may  be  informed  of  the  valuable 
services  and  arduous  duties  rendered  by  the  Marines  while  serving  in  the  Military 
Division  of  the  Atlantic. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Hancock. 

(Signed)  JOHN  S.  WHARTON, 

Captain  Nineteenth  Infantry,  Ac? g  Ass* t  Adj^t- General, 
Official. 
(Signed)    JOHN  S.  WHARTON, 

Captain  Nineteenth  Infantry,  Aide-de-Camp. 
COLONEL  HEYWOOD, 

United  States  Marines. 

Colonel  Heywood  was  again  the  recipient,  two  months  later,  of  a 
complimentary  extract  from  the  report  of  General  Hancock  to  the  adju 
tant-general  of  the  army,  as  follows : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  ATLANTIC, 

NEW  YORK,  October  26,  1877. 
To   MAJOR   CHARLES    HEYWOOD,  UNITED  STATES  MARINES,  MARINE  BARRACKS, 

WASHINGTON,  D.C. : 

SIR, — I  am  directed  by  Major-General  Hancock  to  furnish  you  with  the  following 
extract  from  a  special  report  made  by  him  on  the  24th  inst.  to  the  adjutant-general  of 
the  army : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  ATLANTIC, 
'  NEW  YORK  CITY,  October  24,  1877. 

To  THE  ADJUTANT-GENERAL,  U.  S.  ARMY,  WASHINGTON,  D.C.  : 
SIR,— 

•fr******-*** 
While  all  the  officers  are  entitled  to  commendation  in  their  respective  spheres,  I  deem 
it  incumbent  upon  me  to  mention  the  names  of  the  following,  who  held  commands  at 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  B.  REMEY, 

JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL  OF  THE   NAVY,  WITH  THE  RANK  OF  COLONEL. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  2 1 1 

important   points   during   the    disturbances,  and  certain   staff-officers  as   well,  whose 
services  were  especially  valuable. 

MAJOR  CHARLES  HEYWOOD, 

United  States  Marines. 

•jfr********* 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  WINFIELD  S.  HANCOCK, 

Major- General  Commanding  Division. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  JAMES  B.  FRY, 

Assistant  Adjutant- Genera  I. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

The  Labor  Riots — Services  of  the  Second  Battalion — Separate  Detachments.* 

THE  Second  Battalion  of  Marines  was  commanded  by  Captain  and 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Forney,  and  composed  of  men  belong 
ing  to  the  Norfolk  Barracks,  to  the  monitor  fleet,  and  to  the  several 
ships  of  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron.  During  the  night  of  July  26  it 
had  marched  from  the  head-quarters  of  the  Corps  to  the  Washington 
Arsenal  to  replace  the  artillery  force  of  Major  McMillan,  United  States 
army,  which  had  gone  north  by  rail  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  morning 
of  that  day  reports  came  of  a  strike  among  the  employes  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Potomac  Railroad,  who  up  to  that  time  had  stood  firm,  thus  pre 
serving  a  line  of  communication  with  Baltimore.  A  heavy  special  train 
of  regular  troops  was  being  made  up  to  pass  north  over  the  road,  and 
their  commander,  fearing  interference  at  the  tunnels  and  the  long  bridge 
over  the  Anacostia  River,  or  eastern  branch  of  the  Potomac,  points  easily 
obstructed,  requested  that  guards  of  Marines  be  stationed  there.  Accord 
ingly,  First  Lieutenant  H.  C.  Cochrane,  with  a  detachment  of  thirty-five 
men,  was  sent  to  the  bridge  near  the  naval  magazine,  and  First  Lieutenant 
F.  A.  Mullany  and  Second  Lieutenant  G.  F.  Elliott,  with  similar  detach 
ments,  to  the  tunnels.  The  bridge  was  examined,  and,  being  found  secure, 
sentinels  were  posted  and  possession  held  until  the  train  had  safely  passed. 
The  battalion  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Forney,  after  being  joined 
by  the  companies  of  Captain  H.  J.  Bishop  and  First  Lieutenant  H.  H. 
Coston,  numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty  officers  and  men.  Sentinels 
were  promptly  posted  at  the  main  entrance  of  the  arsenal,  along  the 
water  front,  and  over  the  principal  buildings,  and  the  Marines,  with  their 
marvellous  aptitude  for  any  condition  of  service,  entered  at  once  upon 
garrison  duties.  Next  day  the  battalion  was  reported  to  Major-General 
John  M.  Schofield,  United  States  army,  who  had  been  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  District  of  Columbia  during  the  emergency,  and  re- 

*  Captain  Cochrane  in  United  Service  Magazine. 


2 1 2  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

mained  undisturbed  until  the  morning  of  the  28th,  when  it  was  ordered 
to  the  Baltimore  Depot  by  the  general,  to  be  in  readiness  to  proceed  to 
Baltimore,  which  city  was  still  restless.  A  small  company,  under  First 
Lieutenant  F.  A.  Mullany,  was  detached  and  sent  back  for  the  protection 
of  the  arsenal,  which  had  been  left  unguarded,  and  at  night,  owing  to 
the  receipt  of  more  pacific  advices,  Colonel  Forney  was  instructed  to 
return  with  the  others  and  await  developments. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  2Qth  the  following  telegram  was  received  : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  A.G.O., 
.  WASHINGTON,  D.C.,  July  29,  5.30  A.M. 
COLONEL  FORNEY,  COMMANDING  DETACHMENT  OF  MARINES  : 

Hold  your  detachment  in  readiness  to  proceed  to  the  depot,  as  it  is  possible  it  may 
be  needed  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

(Signed)  T.  M.  VINCENT,  A.A.G. 

At  noon  orders  to  move  came,  and  at  3  P.M.  the  battalion  was  in 
Baltimore,  when  it  was  reinforced  by  First  Lieutenant  C.  P.  Porter's 
company,  which  had  been  sent  back  from  Philadelphia  by  order  of  Gen 
eral  Hancock.  Colonel  Forney  reported  to  Brevet  Major-General  W.  F. 
Barry,  United  States  army,  who  directed  him  to  join  Lieutenant-Colonel 
and  Brevet  Major-General  R.  B.  Ayres,  Third  Artillery,  the  commanding 
officer  of  a  post  established  at  Camden  Station,  who  assigned  the  com 
panies  to  quarters  on  the  platform  of  the  depot,  and  the  officers  to  a 
sleeping-car.  Later  in  the  day  General  Ayres  notified  Colonel  Forney 
to  detail  ten  non-commissioned  officers  and  seventy-five  privates  for  the 
purpose  of  guarding  twenty-five  freight  trains,  which  were  to  be  started 
the  following  day  with  the  hope  of  getting  them  as  far  as  Martinsburg, 
West  Virginia. 

General  Barry's  order  to  General  Ayres,  prescribing  the  details  of  this 
important  duty  is  as  follows : 

HEAD  QUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  TROOPS, 
CAMDEN  STATION,  BALTIMORE,  MD.,  July  29,  1877. 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  R.  B.  AYRES,  THIRD  ARTILLERY,  COMMANDING  POST  : 

COLONEL, — The  colonel  commanding  directs,  inasmuch  as  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company  proposes  to  start  twenty-five  trains  westward  to-morrow  morning, 
commencing  at  IO  A.M.  that  you  have  in  readiness  at  9.30  A.M.  a  guard  of  seventy-five 
men  and  a  sufficient  number  of  officers  to  be  distributed  among  these  trains  as  guards. 
The  men  will  be  provided  with  one  day's  cooked  rations.  A  locomotive  engine  and 
car  will  be  at  this  station  at  9.30  A.M.  to-morrow,  to  take  the  whole  party  to  Riverside 
Station,  from  which  place  the  freight  trains  will  start,  and  where  the  guards  will  be  dis 
tributed  among  the  various  trains  by  the  senior  officer  of  the  detail.  This  guard  will 
return  from  either  Martinsburg  or  Cumberland  on  the  first  eastward-bound  freight  trains, 
acting  as  guards  to  them.  The  senior  officer  will  be  instructed  that  no  train  is  to  start 
without  a  guard. 

Very  Respectfully, 

(Signed)  CLARENCE  O.  HOWARD, 

First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  Second  Artillery. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  2 1 3 

This  order  was  referred  to  Colonel  Forney  to  execute,  with  an  endorse 
ment  by  General  Ayres,  requiring  him  to  have  three  commissioned  officers 
ready  to  accompany  the  detail,  which  was  to  be  in  light  marching  order, 
with  forty  rounds  of  ammunition  per  man.  The  companies  of  Captain 
Bishop  and  First  Lieutenant  Porter  were  selected,  and  Lieutenant  W.  P. 
Biddle,  the  third  officer. 

Captain  Bishop  was  instructed  by  General  Ayres  as  follows:  "Send 
two  marines  on  each  locomotive,  and  scatter  your  command  in  detach 
ments  through  the  twenty-five  trains.  Fire  on  any  man  who  attempts  to 
desert  his  engine,  and  on  anybody  who  interferes  with  the  trains." 
Extra  ammunition  was  issued  to  each  man,  and  what  could  not  be  car 
ried  in  the  cartridge-boxes  was  stowed  in  the  knapsacks.  They  took  the 
train  designated  in  General  Barry's  order  and  proceeded  to  Riverside 
Station,  where  was  assembled  a  large  force  of  the  strikers  and  their  sym 
pathizers. 

The  twenty-five  trains  were  made  up  without  interruption,  and  the 
Marines  distributed  as  prescribed.  Lieutenant  Porter  was  sent  in  the 
first  train  with  twelve  men,  Lieutenant  Biddle  in  a  later  one,  and  Cap 
tain  Bishop,  with  the  last  detachment,  embarked  on  the  25th.  The 
engineers  and  firemen  were  looked  upon  with  more  or  less  suspicion  by 
the  railroad  company,  and  many  of  them  were  new  men. 

Only  a  few  days  before,  the  strikers  in  the  towns  of  Keyser  and  Graf- 
ton  had  declared  that  the  road  should  not  be  opened,  and  Governor 
Mathews  had  in  consequence  called  on  the  President  for  more  troops. 
Companies  E,  D,  and  I,  Fifth  Artillery,  were  sent  from  Baltimore  in  re 
sponse,  and  it  was  this  disposition  which  caused  the  battalion  of  Marines 
to  be  sent  from  the  Washington  Arsenal  to  replace  them.  Knowledge 
of  their  declaration  caused  it  to  be  feared  that  some  of  the  trains  would 
be  fired  into,  or  be  thrown  from  the  track,  by  the  co-strikers,  who  were 
seen  in  groups  along  the  road,  and  had  many  opportunities  for  doing 
serious  mischief  afforded  them  by  the  numerous  bridges,  cuts,  curves, 
and  tunnels  for  which  the  road  is  famous.  The  well-disposed  people 
along  the  route  seemed  glad  of  the  presence  of  the  Marines,  and  cheered 
lustily,  and  after  a  twelve  hours'  run  all  the  trains  reached  Martinsburg 
safely.  The  last  got  in  at  midnight,  and  the  Marines,  who  less  than  ten 
days  before  had  been  pacing  their  monotonous  beats  on  ship-board, 
hundreds  of  miles  away,  thus  found  themselves  in  the  mountains  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  in  the  streets  of  the  little  city  where  the  greatest  labor  strike 
in  history  had  its  origin.  The  opening  of  the  road  to  this  point  having 
been  confirmed,  the  eastward-bound  trains  were  made  ready,  and  at  2 
A.M.  next  day  Lieutenant  Porter  started  back  with  a  convoy.  At  day 
light  Lieutenant  Biddle  followed,  and  at  9  A.M.  Captain  Bishop  again 
brought  up  the  rear.  Baltimore  was  reached  without  accident  or  inci 
dent,  and  the  captain  had  the  pleasure  of  being  complimented  by  General 


214  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Ayres  upon  the  success  of  the  expedition,  with  request  to  convey  the 
general's  thanks  to  his  command. 

It  was  then  learned  that  at  about  the  same  hour  of  the  night  that  they 
reached  Martinsburg  a  train  on  the  next  western  division  of  the  railroad 
had  been  thrown  from  the  track  by  rioters  while  transporting  troops 
between  Keyser  and  Piedmont,  severely  wounding  a  soldier  named 
Hamilton,  of  Battery  E,  Second  Artillery,  and  slightly  wounding  several 
others. 

Colonel  Forney  was  again  ordered,  August  i,  to  make  a  detail  for 
service  as  train-escort,  and  on  the  2d,  Lieutenant  G.  F.  Elliott,  one  non 
commissioned  officer,  and  five  privates  were  sent  to  guard  the  paymaster 
of  the  road  from  Baltimore  to  Martinsburg,  with  funds  to  pay  off  the 
employes.  This  duty  was  successfully  performed,  and  upon  his  return 
Lieutenant  Elliott  rejoined  the  battalion  at  Fort  McHenry,  to  which 
point  it  had  proceeded  at  noon  of  the  2d,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of 
War.  While  at  the  fort  the  battalion  performed  the  usual  garrison  duties, 
with  daily  drills,  parade,  guard-mounting,  etc.  Each  night,  until  the 
6th  of  August,  it  was  considered  necessary  to  send  a  special  detail,  con 
sisting  of  one  officer,  two  non-commissioned  officers,  and  eighteen 
privates,  to  guard  the  grain-elevators  and  wharves  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  at  Locust  Point  from  retreat  until  reveille,  which 
duty  was  performed  by  Lieutenants  Coston,  Elliott,  L.  C.  Webster,  and 
Biddle. 

The  roster  of  the  battalion  at  this  time  was  as  follows  :  Captain  and 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Forney,  commanding ;  First  Lieutenant 
G.  F.  Elliott,  adjutant;  Assistant-Surgeon  E.  H.  Green,  surgeon; 
First  Sergeant  H.  Carlisle,  sergeant-major;  Sergeant  J.  E.  Dudley, 
quartermaster-sergeant.  Company  A :  Captain  H.  J.  Bishop,  com 
manding;  Second  Lieutenant  L.  C.  Webster,  three  sergeants,  five 
corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  thirty-four  privates :  total,  forty- 
four.  Company  B:  First  Lieutenant  H.  H.  Coston,  commanding; 
Second  Lieutenaht  W.  P.  Biddle,  two  sergeants,  five  corporals,  one  drum 
mer,  one  fifer,  thirty-four  privates:  total,  forty-three.  Company  C: 
First  Lieutenant  C.  P.  Porter,  commanding ;  two  sergeants,  four  corpo 
rals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  thirty-five  privates :  total,  forty-three. 
Company  D  :  First  Lieutenant  R.  J.  Wainwright,  commanding ;  two 
sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  thirty-seven  privates  : 
total,  forty-five. 

General  Order  No.  45,  August  15,  announced  that  the  "Marine  bat 
talion  would  be  relieved  and  proceed  to  Washington  by  rail  at- 4  P.M." 
In  this  order  General  Barry  said,  "The  colonel  commanding  the  United 
States  troops  in  and  near  Baltimore  avails  himself  of  the  present  occasion 
to  express  in  this  public  manner  the  recognition  of  Major-General  Han 
cock,  and  of  himself,  of  the  valuable  services  rendered  by  the  various 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  215 

detachments  of  United  States  Marines  while  serving  with  the  army  in 
this  command." 

At  four  o'clock  the  battalion  marched  out  of  the  fort  and  returned  to 
head-quarters,  where  it  was  preceded  only  a  short  time  by  the  battalion  of 
Colonel  Heywood,  from  Pennsylvania. 

The  company  which  garrisoned  the  Washington  Arsenal  was  com 
posed  of  two  detachments,  one  of  twenty-five  men,  under  Lieutenant 
Mullany,  and  the  other  of  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  and  twenty-five 
privates,  under  Lieutenant  H.  C.  Cochrane. 

The  composition  of  the  detachment  of  Marines  was  highly  illustrative 
of  the  mobility  of  the  service.  Fifty-four  enlisted  men  represented  the 
head-quarters  of  the  Corps,  the  Norfolk  Barracks,  the  frigate  Franklin, 
the  steam-sloops  Hartford,  Powhatan,  Plymouth,  Ossipee,  and  Swatara, 
and  the  ironclads  Ajax,  Saugus,  Lehigh,  Mahopac,  Manhattan,  and 
Catskill, — fourteen  different  commands, — and  yet,  in  three  days,  no  per 
son  could  have  told  that  they  had  not  served  together  for  years.  On 
the  afternoon  of  August  9  the  companies  of  seamen  were  embarked  on 
their  respective  ships,  and  Lieutenant  Cochrane  detached  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  Marines,  and  ordered  back  to  the  Plymouth,  being  relieved 
by  Captain  Hamilton's  battery  of  the  Second  Artillery. 

The  guard  at  the  United  States  Arsenal,  at  Watervliet,  New  York, 
being  very  small  and  insufficient  for  its  protecfion,  Captain  F.  H.  Corrie 
was  ordered  at  5  P.M.,  July  24,  to  report  to  Captain  D.  L.  Braine, 
United  States  Navy,  commanding  the  Colorado.  At  midnight,  Captain 
Corrie  left  the  New  York  Navy- Yard,  on  the  steam-tug  Fathomer,  with 
Lieutenant  Henry  Whiting  and  fifty  men,  detailed  from  the  guard  of  the 
Colorado.  Captain  Corrie's  orders  were  marked  "confidential,"  and 
enjoined  upon  him  to  use  all  the  means  in  his  power  to  protect  the 
government  property  at  the  place  for  which  he  was  destined.  To  con 
ceal  all  knowledge  of  this  movement,  the  tug  was  ordered  to  steam  up 
the  Hudson  River  under  cover  of  night,  and  at  daylight  land  at  the 
nearest  town,  to  transfer  the  Marines  to  the  morning  express  bound 
north.  This  was  done,  and  the  company  was  landed  at  Dobb's  Ferry, 
a  small  station  twenty-two  miles  from  New  York.  Discovering  that  the 
express  train  did  not  usually  stop,  authority  was  asked,  which  was 
promptly  granted,  and  an  extra  car  attached  for  their  use.  At  Pough- 
keepsie  trouble  was  expected.  A  large  mob  was  found  at  the  depot, 
some  of  whom  got  on  the  platform  of  the  car  containing  the  Marines, 
and  looked  in  to  get  their  measure.  The  spokesman  turned  and  said, 
"  Well,  them  fellers  look  like  reg'lars;  guess  we  don't  want  nothin'  to 
do  with  them,"  and  got  off.  Another  said  to  Captain  Corrie,  "  Where 
are  you  going?"  He  replied,  "  Up  the  road."  Next,  "  And  what  are 
you  going  to  do?"  "Obey  orders."  This  was  altogether  too  in 
definite,  and  he  retired. 


216  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

No  attack  was  attempted,  and  at  2  P.M.  the  company  reached  West 
Troy  safely,  and  marched  to  the  arsenal.  The  company  remained  at 
the  arsenal  until  the  20th  of  August,  when,  in  obedience  to  a  telegraphic 
order,  Captain  Corrie  returned  with  his  command  to  New  York.  Gen 
eral  Hagner,  the  commandant  of  the  arsenal,  in  post  orders,  acknowl 
edged  u  the  satisfactory  manner  in  which  the  duties  assigned  to  the  Ma 
rine  detachment  had  been  performed,"  and  in  his  order  to  Captain 
Corrie,  said,  "  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  add,  in  wishing  yourself  and 
Lieutenant  Whiting  a  safe  return  to  your  regular  station,  my  personal 
acknowledgments  for  our  very  agreeable  social  intercourse."  General 
Hancock,  in  special  order  No.  189,  remarked,  ''The  division  com 
mander  is  gratified  to  announce  that  Colonel  Peter  V.  Hagner,  com 
manding  Watervliet  Arsenal,  has  commended  the  officers  and  men  of 
this  detachment  for  their  cheerful  assistance  and  soldier-like  conduct  in 
discharge  of  the  duties  assigned  them." 

The  important  arsenal  at  Frankford,  in  Philadelphia,  was  almost  as 
defenceless  as  that  at  Watervliet,  and  in  a  much  more  exposed  condition. 

On  July  22,  Colonel  Thomas  A.  Scott,  president  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  informed  Captain  C.  H.  Welles,  commandant  of  the 
League  Island  yard,  that  he  had  evidence  that  an  attempt  would  be 
made  by  the  rioters  to  secure  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  Frankford 
Arsenal. 

Captain  Welles  acted  promptly,  and  detailed  Captain  W.  R.  Brown, 
of  the  Corps,  to  proceed  with  fifty  Marines,  forty  rounds  of  ammunition, 
and  one  field-piece,  on  the  steam-tug  Pilgrim  to  the  arsenal.  He  also 
ordered  Captain  Adams,  commanding  the  training-ship  Constitution,  to 
send  a  party  of  Marines,  under  Lieutenant  J.  B.  Breese,  to  the  naval 
magazine  at  Fort  Mifflin.  An  extra  guard  of  Marines,  under  First  Lieu 
tenant  S.  K.  Allen,  was  stationed  at  the  main  gate  of  the  yard  with  a 
field-howitzer.  Captain  Brown,  Lieutenant  George  T.  Bates,  and  the 
detachment  arrived,  and  were  quartered  in  the  grounds.  The  Ma 
rines  remained  one  month  at  Frankford,  and  returned  to  League  Island 
August  21. 

Major  Whittemore,  the  commandant  of  the  arsenal,  in  his  order  for 
the  detachment  to  return,  expressed  his  "  thanks  to  the  commander,  and 
the  men  composing  it,  for  the  services  rendered  by  them  when  most 
needed."  Captain  Brown  and  his  detachment  were  specially  mentioned 
in  General  Hancock's  order  No.  189. 

Before  disbandment,  the  First  and  Second  Battalions  were  consoli 
dated,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Heywood,  for  a  street  parade  and 
review  by  the  Hon.  R.  W.  Thompson,  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Eight 
companies,  in  fatigue  uniform,  numbering  over  three  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  marched  from  the  head-quarters  barracks  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue 
to  the  Navy  Department,  on  Seventeenth  Street,  and  gave  a  marching 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  217 

salute  to  Secretary  Thompson,  the  several  chiefs  of  bureau,  and  Colonel 
Charles  G.  McCawley,  commandant  of  the  corps,  who  were  assembled 
on  the  west  steps  of  the  building.  The  Marine  Band,  fifty-two  pieces,  and 
a  drum  corps  of  twenty-two  pieces  accompanied  them,  and  the  papers  of 
the  day  spoke  highly  of  the  precision  of  the  marching,  as  well  as  of  the 
fine  order  of  the  arms  and  other  equipments  of  the  entire  command. 
The  Secretary  issued  the  following  congratulatory  letter : 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  August  17,  1877. 

SIR, — The  Department  has  received  from  Major-General  Hancock  an  official  order, 
wherein  he  bestows  the  highest  praise  upon  the  Marines  who  have  just  returned  from 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  under  command  of  Major  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  by 
Brevet  Heywood  and  Captain  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  by  Brevet  Forney.  The  major- 
general  expresses  his  high  appreciation  of  the  excellent  conduct  and  soldierly  qualities 
of  both  officers  and  men,  and  adds  that  citizens  and  soldiers  are  united  in  admiration 
of  the  soldierly  bearing,  excellent  discipline,  and  devotion  to  duty  displayed  by  them 
while  at  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  Reading. 

The  Secretary  of  War  also  forwarded  to  the  Department  a  copy  of  a  report  from  Colo 
nel  and  Surgeon  J.  M.  Cuyler,  medical  director  of  the  Division  of  the  Atlantic,  who, 
in  accordance  with  instructions,  inspected  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  Marines  at 
Reading,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  Medical- Director  Cuyler  says, — 

"  The  sanitary  state  of  the  command  is  excellent,  and  the  officers  evidently  take 
great  pride  in  looking  after  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  men.  I  do  not  recollect  of 
ever  having  seen  a  more  soldierly  set  of  men,  or  a  more  orderly  set,  proving  that  they  are 
under  most  excellent  discipline.  These  men  seemed  to  be  so  well  taken  care  of  by 
their  officers  that  I  really  cannot  see  what  the  major-general  commanding  can  do  to  add 
to  their  health  and  comfort.  It  is  quite  remarkable  that  men  performing  such  service 
are  able  to  keep  themselves  and  their  arms,  etc.,  so  very  clean  and  neat." 

This  was  to  be  expected  from  the  well-established  character  of  the  Marines,  but  is 
none  the  less  gratifying  to  the  Department,  and  it  desires  to  express  through  you  to 
both  officers  and  men  its  high  appreciation  of  them,  and  to  assure  them  of  its  readi 
ness  to  co-operate  in  the  adoption  of  any  measure  necessary  to  their  comfort  and  an 
increase  of  their  efficiency.  They  are  a  most  important  arm  of  the  national  defence, 
and  the  readiness  with  which  they  have  responded  to  the  recent  summons  of  the  De 
partment  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  unlawful  combinations  of  men,  no  less  than  their 
proficiency  in  discipline,  prove  that  they  may  confidently  be  relied  upon  whenever  the 
public  exigency  shall  call  them  into  active  service. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  W.  THOMPSON, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

COLONEL  CHARLES  G.  MCCAWLEY, 

Commandant  of  the  Marine  Corps,  Washington,  D.  C. 


21 8  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. . 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

1878-82. — Universal  Exposition — Marines  at  Alexandria. 

IN  1878,  during  the  Universal  Exposition  at  Paris,  a  company  of  Ma 
rines,  under  Lieutenants  B.  R.  Russell  and  W.  F.  Zeilin,  were  sent  out  in 
the  Constitution  for  duty  in  that  city.  They  had  charge  of  the  American 
Department,  and  the  Hon.  R.  C.  McCormick,  commissioner-general  for 
the  United  States,  reported  to  the  Navy  Department  that  "  their  excellent 
conduct,  both  on  and  off  duty,  were  spoken  of  in  the  most  complimentary 
terms  by  the  French  authorities,  by  the  citizens  of  Paris,  and  the  visitors 
of  the  Exposition,"  and  at  the  ceremonies  attending  the  distribution  of 
prizes,  in  October,  their  military  bearing  elicited  "  a  grand  outburst  of 
enthusiasm,  and  they  throughout  reflected  honor  upon  our  flag  by  their 
admirable  performance  of  an  important  duty  in  a  foreign  land." 

1882. — After  a  lapse  of  seventy-seven  years  a  detachment  of  Marines 
again  demonstrated  their  efficiency  and  gallantry  amid  scenes  of  riot  and 
bloodshed  in  the  Land  of  the  Pyramids. 

Much  surprise  had  been  excited  by  the  apparent  supineness  of  the  French 
and  English  naval  forces  in  the  harbor  of  Alexandria  on  the  occasion 
of  the  serious  outbreak  in  that  city  on  the  nth  of  June,  1882,  and  which 
resulted  in  the  destruction  of  the  greater  part  of  the  European  quarter 
and  the  death  or  wounding  of  more  than  two  hundred  European  residents. 
The  outbreak  was  in  no  sense  an  ordinary  disturbance  of  the  peace.  Its 
promoters  and  agents  were  Egyptian  soldiers,  its  fury  was  directed  almost 
exclusively  against  European  residents,  and  included  in  its  havoc  civil 
and  military  functionaries  of  the  very  powers  whose  guns  frowned  voice- 
lessly  upon  the  scene.  Whatever  the  reason,  whether  military  or  diplo 
matic,  for  the  inaction  of  the  forces,  it  was  none  the  less  a  painful  ordeal 
for  the  gallant  men  who  lay  that  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  harbor  of 
Alexandria  undergoing  a  harder  battle  with  their  knightly  impulses  than 
any  that  Egyptian  fellaheen  could  have  offered  them. 

The  flag-ship  Lancaster,  Captain  B.  Gherardi,  bearing  the  flag  of  Rear- 
Ad  mi  ral  J.  W.  A.  Nicholson,  arrived  on  the  2yth  of  June  at  Alexandria. 
It  was  found  that  the  English  admiral  was  making  preparations  to 
administer  condign  punishment  to  Arabi  Pacha  and  his  troops.  The 
Lancaster  became  a  refuge  for  men,  women,  and  children,  and  her  decks 
were  crowded  with  those  unfortunate  and  innocent  foreigners  residing  in 
the  city.  On  the  nth  were  enacted  those  scenes  of  horror  so  graphically 
described  by  the  newspapers  of  the  day, — pillaging,  conflagrations, 
rapine,  etc.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  that  armed  forces  should 
occupy  the  city  as  soon  as  possible,  and  the  naval  representatives  of  the 
different  nationalities  responded  promptly.  On  the  i4th  a  detachment 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  219 

of  naval  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Commander  Good 
rich,  consisting  of  Lieutenants  Hutchins  and  Graham,  Midshipmen 
Dent  and  Capeau,  sixty-nine  sailors  and  two  Catlings  ;  also  a  detachment 
of  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Captain  H.  C.  Cochrane,  consisting 
of  Lieutenants  F.  L.  Denny  and  L.  W.  T.  Waller,  and  sixty  non-com 
missioned  officers,  musicians,  and  privates,  landed  and  marched  through 
hot  and  smoky  streets,  filled  with  debris  from  fallen  walls  and  merchan 
dise  from  plundered  shops,  and  lined  with  burning  stores  and  dwellings. 
They  finally  reached  the  Grand  Square  of  Mehemet  Ali,  and  occupied  the 
building  containing  the  American  consulate.  Their  presence  was  im 
mediately  felt  and  recognized.  They  were  the  first  troops  in  the  centre  of 
the  city,  which  they  thoroughly  patrolled,  having  sentinels  posted  at  the 
bourse,  telegraph  offices,  and  banks  that  had  not  been  pillaged. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i5th  the  majority  of  the  force  was  withdrawn, 
leaving  on  shore  Lieutenant  Hutchins,  Master  Burnett,  Midshipman 
Dent,  two  sailors,  with  one  Catling,  Lieutenants  Denny  and  Waller,  in 
command  of  twenty-five  Marines.  This  detachment  was  withdrawn  on 
the  iSth,  with  the  exception  of  Lieutenant  Denny  and  six  Marines,  who 
remained  as  a  guard  to  the  consulate  until  the  241)1. 

Information  was  received  during  our  occupation  that  Arabi  Pacha  was 
returning  with  a  large  force  to  attack  the  city.  The  French  and  Italians 
hastened  back  to  their  vessels,  leaving  the  English  and  American  Ma 
rines  and  sailors  to  receive  the  rumored  night  attack. 

The  correspondent  of  the  London  Times,  at  Alexandria,  telegraphed 
as  follows  :  "  Lord  Charles  Beresford  states  that  without  the  assistance 
of  the  American  Marines  he  would  have  been  unable  to  discharge  the 
numerous  duties  of  suppressing  fires,  preventing  looting,  burying  the 
dead,  and  clearing  the  streets." 

Colburn's  United  Service  Magazine  for  September,  of  that  year,  has  the 
following  note:  "But  the  Americans  did  not  limit  their  friendly  ac 
tion  to  expressions  of  sympathy.  After  Arabi's  retreat  to  Kafir  Dowar, 
it  was  rumored  that  he  intended  to  attack  Alexandria  in  force ;  on  learn 
ing  which  the  other  nationalities  prudently  withdrew  to  their  ships.  The 
American  Marines,  however,  sixty  in  number,  expressed  their  determina 
tion  to  'stick  by  the  British  and  take  their  chances,'  and,  small  as  was 
their  number,  and  great  as  was  the  risk,  they  did  stick  as  long  as  was 
necessary." 

Under  date  of  October  24,  1882,  the  following  letter  was  addressed  to 
Lieutenant  Denny,  from  Eaton  Square,  London  : 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  testify  to  your  very  valuable  services  and  true  courage 
during  those  irksome,  terrible  days  after  the  bombardment  of  Alexandria.  I  can  con- 
•fidently  say  that  without  the  services  of  American  troops  order  could  not  have  been  re 
stored,  and  the  great  fires  in  the  city  subdued.  To  Lieutenant  Hutchins,  and  you,  and 
your  smart,  faithful  force  great  credit  is  due.  ...  I  have  represented  these  facts  to  my 
government.  .  .  .  (Signed)  CHARLES  BERESFORD. 


22O  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
1885. — The  Expedition  to  Panama. 

IN  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  1848  with  New  Grenada, 
now  one  of  the  Colombian  states,  the  United  States  of  America  guaran 
teed  the  protection  of  traffic  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 

The  political  complication  which  resulted  in  the  revolution  of  1885 
may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows  : 

The  president  of  each  of  the  eight  states  forming  the  United  States  of 
Colombia,  as  well  as  the  national  executive,  are  elected  for  terms  of  two 
years.  Each  state  is  independent  in  the  management  of  its  local  affairs. 
The  elections  in  Panama  occurred  in  the  summer  of  1884,  ar>d  two- 
candidates  were  balloted  for, — viz.,  Seflors  Arosemena  and  Lambert. 
The  former  is  said  to  have  had  the  support  of  the  government  at  Bogota. 
Although  the  results  of  the  balloting  were  disputed,  it  was  claimed  that 
Senor  Lambert  had  been  elected. 

The  Constitutional  Assembly,  composed  of  thirty-two  members,  met 
on  the  6th  of  January,  1885,  decided  that  there  had  been  no  election, 
and  proceeded  to  elect  a  president,  as  provided  for  by  law. 

General  Santo  Domingo  Vila,  who  came  to  the  Isthmus  in  November, 
1884,  as  a  fiscal  agent  of  the  general  government  to  examine  into  the 
contracts  between  the  Panama  Railroad  Company  and  the  state,  was 
chosen  president  of  the  state  of  Panama  January  7,  1885,  by  the  Con 
stitutional  Assembly.  Senors  Arosemena  and  Vivas  Leon  were  chosen 
or  appointed  first  designado  and  second  designado. 

The  office  and  duties  of  the  designado  are  similar  to  those  of  vice- 
president,  and  in  the  event  of  the  death  or  absence  of  the  president  they 
succeed  successively  to  the  presidency. 

The  other  officers  of  the  state  government,  such  as  secretary  of  state, 
governor  of  Panama,  prefects,  etc.,  are  appointed  by  the  president.  The 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Colombian  (national)  forces  is  appointed 
from  Bogota,  and  that  office  was  filled  by  General  Gonima. 

The  steamer  Boyaca,  which  later  on  performed  valuable  service  for  the 
national  government,  was  lying  off  Panama,  formed  part  of  Gonima's 
force,  and  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Ulloa. 

In  February  a  portion  of  the  national  forces  stationed  on  the  Isthmus 
was  sent  to  Buenaventura,  the  seaport  of  the  state  of  Cauca,  about  three 
hundred  miles  south  of  Panama,  to  aid  in  suppressing  the  revolution 
which  had  broken  out  in  that  state.  About  the  ist  of  March,  General 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  221 

Vila,  obtaining  two  months'  leave  of  absence,  sailed  himself  with  more 
national  troops  for  Carthagena,  to  help  suppress  the  rebellion  in  the  state 
of  Bolivar.  The  strength  of  the  national  forces  having  been  thus  reduced 
in  Panama,  those  who  were  discontented  with  the  result  of  the  election 
took  the  opportunity  to  attempt  a  revolution. 

First  Designado  Arosemena  had  succeeded  to  the  presidency  of  the 
state  in  the  absence  of  Santo  Domingo  Vila,  and  General  Gonima,  the 
commander-in-chief,  was  in  Colon. 

General  Aizpuru,  who  had  been  president  of  the  state  of  Panama  for 
one  term,  in  1874,  and  who  had  served  in  the  national  legislature,  was 
recognized  as  the  leader  of  the  liberal  party  in  the  state.  On  the  i6th 
of  March  he  made  a  demonstration  against  the  government,  which  caused 
Sefior  Arosemena  to  take  refuge  on  her  British  Majesty's  ship  Heroine, 
then  lying  off  Panama;  broke  open  cars,  opened  and  blocked  switches, 
obstructed  the  road,  prevented  repairs  to  the  same,  cut  the  telegraph 
wires,  seized  and  held  railroad  employes,  claimed  the  right  to  exercise 
a  censorship  over  the  telegrams,  and  made  it  necessary  to  close  the 
transit.  General  Gonima,  hearing  of  this  demonstration  on  the  part  of 
Aizpuru,  proceeded  by  train  to  Panama  with  the  national  force  then 
stationed  at  Colon.  When  Gonima  arrived,  on  the  iyth  of  March, 
Aizpuru  retired  from  the  city,  and  Sefior  Arosemena  returned  from  the 
Heroine. 

Colon  was  now  without  troops.  Prestan,  a  Haytien  negro,  with  a 
trace  of  white  blood,  the  leader  of  a  faction  of  the  radical  wing  of  the 
liberal  party,  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  seized  that  city. 
Aizpuru  and  Prestan  were  pronounced  in  their  dislike  to  all  foreigners 
on  the  Isthmus,  especially  to  the  Americans  living  there,  and  this  feeling 
was  made  use  of  to  incite  their  adherents  and  hold  them  together. 

About  the  2oth  of  March,  Arosemena  resigned.  Vivas  Leon  should 
then,  in  the  absence  of  Santo  Domingo  Vila,  have  succeeded  to  the  presi 
dency  of  Panama,  but  was  prevented  by  General  Gonima,  who  declared 
himself  the  "Military  and  Civil  Chief  of  Panama."  This  title  and 
office  are  established  by  law;  the  national  government  may,  under 
certain  circumstances,  make  such  an  appointment.  It  is  very  question 
able,  however,  whether  General  Gonima  had  a  right  to  seize  the  reins  of 
government,  more  particularly  since  the  second  designado,  Seiior  Vivas 
Leon,  was  in  Panama,  and  should,  according  to  precedent  and  law,  have 
succeeded  to  the  presidency. 

On  the  night  of  the  3oth  of  March,  General  Gonima  sent  Colonel 
Ulloa  (then  commanding  the  Boyaca)  by  train  to  Colon,  with  a  portion 
of  the  troops  in  Panama,  to  put  down  Prestan's  revolution.  In  order  to 
prevent  a  conflict  within  the  limits  of  Colon,  Mr.  Burt,  the  superin 
tendent  of  the  Panama  Railroad  Company,  notified  Colonel  Ulloa  that 
he  must  disembark  at  Monkey  Hill,  about  two  miles  outside  of  Colon. 


222  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

This  was  also  made  necessary  by  Prestan,  who,  hearing  of  the  departure 
of  national  troops,  went  out  with  his  force  to  meet  Ulloa,  tearing  up  the 
railroad  tracks  between  Colon  and  Monkey  Hill. 

The  two  forces,  numbering  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  each,  met 
on  the  Panama  side  of  Monkey  Hill.  After  a  short  conflict  Prestan  was 
driven  from  his  position  into  Colon  and  behind  his  barricades  in  that 
city.  After  fighting  for  several  hours  on  the  morning  of  April  i,  the 
insurgents  were  dislodged  and  put  to  flight  by  the  national  forces,  led 
with  great  gallantry  by  Colonel  Ulloa  and  his  second  .  in  command, 
Colonel  Broun,  who  was  chief  of  police  at  Panama.  Both  officers  were 
severely  wounded  in  the  engagement.  During  the  conflict  the  city  was 
fired  by  the  insurgents  and  destroyed. 

The  departure  of  Colonel  Ulloa  and  his  command  from  Panama  still 
further  reduced  the  force  in  that  city;  and  on  the  day  of  the  fight  in 
Colon,  April  i,  Aizpuru,  with  the  ammunition  taken  on  the  i6th  of  the 
preceding  month  from  a  sealed  car  in  transit  to  Central  America,  cap 
tured  Panama.  General  Gonima,  with  less  than  one  hundred  soldiers  in 
the  cuartel,  made  a  gallant  defence,  and  held  out  for  some  time  against  a 
much  larger  force.  He  finally  surrendered  to  Aizpuru  to  prevent  the 
destruction  of  the  cuartel  by  dynamite  taken  from  contractors  employed 
by  the  canal  company  and  used  for  blasting. 

When  General  Gonima  surrendered,  the  Boyaca  was  included  in  the 
stipulations,  but  Sefior  Jose  Obaldia,  who  was  in  command  of  her,  refused 
to  be  governed  by  the  terms  of  the  surrender,  and  sailed  for  Buenaventura, 
then  held  by  the  national  government.  General  Aizpuru,  having  seized 
the  government,  declared  himself  president  of  the  state  of  Panama,  and 
filled  the  offices  with  his  friends. 

Colonel  Ulloa,  with  less  than  one  hundred  national  troops,  held 
Colon ;  the  rest  of  the  Isthmus  included  in  the  zone  of  transit  was  held 
by  the  insurgents  under  Aizpuru. 

This  was  the  condition  of  affairs  upon  the  arrival  of  the  First  Battalion 
of  Marines  at  Colan,  in  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company's  steamer 
City  of  Para,  on  the  nth  of  April,  1885. 

On  Thursday,  April  2,  at  12  M.,  an  order  was  received  by  Colonel- 
Commandant  C.  G.  McCawley  from  the  Navy  Department  to  detail  a 
battalion  of  Marines  to  sail  the  next  day  on  the  City  of  Para  for  Colon. 
Within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  receipt  of  the  telegraphic  order,  this 
battalion,  organized  from  officers  and  men  detached  from  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Washington,  sailed  in  the  City 
of  Para  from  New  York,  fully  equipped,  commanded  by  Brevet  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Charles  Heywood,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  a  veteran  of 
the  last  war,  who  came  out  of  that  war  brevetted  twice  for  distinguished 
gallantry  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy. 

The  battalion  arrived  at   Colon  on  the  night  of  the   nth,  and  dis- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  223 

embarked  the  next  morning  at  six  o'clock,  in  obedience  to  the  following 
order  : 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  TENNESSEE  (first  rate), 

AsriNWALL,  U.S.C.,  April  n,  1885. 

SIR, — Proceed  to  Panama  with  the  battalion  of  Marines  under  your  command,  for 
the  protection  of  American  lives  and  property  in  that  vicinity.  The  details  of  this 
service  are  left  to  your  discretion. 

Panama  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  revolutionary  forces,  and  it  is  feared  that  if  the 
place  is  attacked  by  the  regular  Colombian  troops  these  revolutionists  will  attempt  to 
destroy  the  city,  or  portions  of  it,  by  burning.  As  the  burning  of  Panama  would  in 
volve  the  destruction  of  much  American  and  other  foreign  property,  you  will  prevent 
it  if  possible. 

Please  advise  Captain  Norton,  commanding  United  States  ship  Shenandoah,  now  at 
Panama,  of  your  arrival  there. 

I  enclose  herewith  a  copy  of  my  telegraphic  instructions  from  the  department,  and 
also  some  extracts  of  a  sworn  protest  by  Mr.  George  A.  Burt,  general  superintendent  of 
the  Panama  Railroad  Company,  for  your  information. 

I  have  detailed  a  Galling  gun  and  a  12-pounder  S.  B.  howitzer,  with  officers  and 
crew,  for  service  with  your  command. 
The  officers  are  directed  to  report  to  you. 

Very  respectfully, 

JAS.  E.  JOUETT, 

Rear- Admiral,  Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  N.  A.  Station, 
MAJOR  CHARLES  HEYWOOD,  U.S.M.C., 

Commanding  Marine  Battalion,  Isthmus  of  Panama. 


At  six  o'clock  the  same  night,  Colonel  Heywood,  with  the  First  Bat 
talion,  occupied  the  railroad  company's  buildings  at  the  Panama  end  of 
the  line,  forty-seven  and  a  half  miles  distant,  situated  outside  the  walls 
of  the  city,  and  the  transit  was  opened. 

When  the  battalion  arrived  at  Panama,  the  city  was  convulsed,  and 
great  excitement  ensued.  The  Marines  were  confronted  by  a  desperate 
and  turbulent  mob,  but,  owing  to  the  firm  bearing  and  formidable 
appearance  of  these  troops,  an  attack  was  not  made  by  the  insurgents  as 
was  apprehended. 

The  transit  was  kept  open  by  a  detachment  on  every  train,  and, 
although  attempts  were  made  by  the  insurgents  to  attack  the  trains  at 
various  points,  a  few  well-directed  shots,  together  with  the  admirable 
discipline  of  the  men,  prevented  any  disaster. 

Although  the  Marines  were  scattered  along  the  coast  from  Maine  to 
Florida,  a  second  battalion  was  quickly  detailed  and  equipped,  and  sailed 
in  the  steamer  Acapulco,  on  Tuesday,  April  7,  under  command  of  Captain 
J.  H.  Higbee,  United  States  Marine  Corps.  With  this  battalion  also  sailed 
a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  sailors,  the  whole  under  command 
of  Commander  B.  H.  McCalla,  United  States  Navy,  in  accordance  with 
the  following  order : 


224  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  5,  1885. 

SIR, — You  will  proceed  with  a  detachment  of  Marines  and  blue.jackets,  per  Pacific 
Mail  steamer  Acapulco  to  Aspinwall  and  report  to  the  senior  naval  officer  present  for 
duty  in  connection  with  opening  the  transit  and  protecting  and  caring  for  the  lives  and 
property  of  American  citizens  upon  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  You  will  have  command 
of  the  entire  force  sent  from  New  York  for  the  above  purpose,  subject  to  the  orders  of 
the  admiral  commanding  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron,  or  of  the  senior  officer  present, 
the  force  sent  by  the  City  of  Para  and  by  the  Acapulco  being  considered  as  your  par 
ticular  command. 

You  will  take  every  precaution  to  protect  the  health  and  lives  of  the  officers  and  men 
p'aced  under  you,  and  while  taking  all  the  necessary  steps  to  have  your  command  in 
the  highest  state  of  efficiency,  you  will  expose  it  to  the  trying  climate  of  the  Isthmus  no 
more  than  is  absolutely  necessary. 

Very  respectfully, 

W.  C.  WHITNEY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

COMMANDER  BOWMAN  H.  MCCALLA,  U.S.N., 
Navy-  Yard,  New  York. 

The  Acapulco  came  to  anchor  off  Colon  at  9  P.M.  of  the  i5th  of  April. 
During  that  day,  in  order  to  prepare  for  landing  at  once  in  case  of 
necessity,  two  days'  rations  were  served  out,  and  the  ammunition-boxes 
of  the  3-inch  rifles  and  Catlings  were  supplied  with  shell,  shrapnel,  and 
small-arm  ammunition.  Each  man  carried  forty  cartridges,  his  blanket 
rolled  with  a  change  of  clothing,  canteens,  and  haversacks. 

Early  the  following  morning  the  Acapulco  hauled  alongside  Wharf 
No.  i  of  the  Panama  Railroad  Company,  which  had  been  partially  re 
built,  and  at  nine  o'clock  Rear-Admiral  Jouett  inspected  the  command, 
expressing  himself  as  well  pleased  with  its  appearance. 

Rear-Admiral  Jouett  had  arrived  on  the  afternoon  of  the  loth  of  April, 
in  the  flag-ship  Tennessee,  accompanied  by  the  Swatara.  The  Marine 
garrison  stationed  at  Pensacola,  Captain  R.  L.  Meade,  Second  Lieutenant 
Arthur  H.  Clark,  seven  non-commissioned  officers,  twenty-eight  privates, 
and  two  musicians  came  down  in  the  flag-ship. 

The  following  order  was  issued  by  Rear-Admiral  Jouett : 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  STATION, 
UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  TENNESSEE  (first  rate), 

ASPINWALL,  U.S.C.,  April  15,  1885. 

SIR, — By  direction  of  the  Navy  Department  you  will  please  assume  command  of  the 
forces  which  have  been  sent  from  New  York  by  steamer  for  the  protection  of  American 
interests  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  You  will  also  include  in  your  command  all  the 
forces  which  have  been  landed  from  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron. 

You  will  land  the  men  now  on  board  the  Acapulco  at  your  own  discretion,  as  soon  as 
they  can  be  properly  accommodated  on  shore. 

The  transit  is  open  and  trains  have  been  running  regularly  since  the  nth  instant. 
Aspinwall  is  held  by  the  Colombian  troops,  and  Panama  is  in  the  hands  of  the  insurgents. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  225 

I  enclose  for  your  information  a  memorandum  showing  the  number  and  disposition  of 
the  forces  on  shore ;  also  copies  of  a  squadron  general  order  relative  to  sanitary  precau 
tions  to  be  observed,  and  of  my  orders  to  Lieutenant  Colahan  and  Colonel  Heywood. 

Very  respectfully, 

JAS.  E.  JOUETT, 

Rear-Admiral,  Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  N.  A.  Station. 
COMMANDER  B.  II.  MCCALLA,  U.S.N., 

Pacific  Mail  Steamer  Acapulco,  Aspinwall,  U.S.C. 


On  the  1 6th  the  following  communication  was  addressed  to  Commander 
McCalla  by  Rear-Admiral  Jouett : 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  STATION, 

UNITED  STATES  FLAG-SHIP  TENNESSEE  (first  rate), 

ASPINWALL,  U.S.C.,  April  16,  1885. 

SIR, — I  send  enclosed  for  your  information  a  copy  of  my  instructions  from  the  honor 
able  Secretary  of  the  Navy  relative  to  the  purpose  for  which  our  government  has  sent  so 
extensive  an  expedition  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  together  with  a  copy  of  a  letter 
which  I  addressed,  upon  my  arrival  here,  to  Colonel  Ramon  Ulloa,  of  the  Colombian 
Guard,  the  only  representative  of  the  constitutional  government  of  Colombia  who  was 
in  this  vicinity  at  that  time. 

You  will  please  require  your  command  to  carefully  comply  with  the  Department's 
instructions  relative  to  the  conduct  of  our  forces  while  they  remain  on  the  Isthmus. 

As  I  have  already  informed  you,  the  city  of  Panama  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  revo 
lutionary  forces,  commanded  by  one  Aizpuru,  who  assumes  the  title  of  president  of  the 
state.  I  do  not  wish  to  recognize  the  authority  of  the  said  Aizpuru  in  any  way. 

The  regular  Colombian  forces  have  recently  been  very  successful  in  the  interior  of 
Colombia,  and  I  trust  they  will  soon  come  to  this  Isthmus,  re-establish  the  authority  of 
the  constitutional  government,  afford  adequate  security  to  life  and  property,  and  enforce 
order. 

It  is  rumored  that  Aizpuru  has  threatened  to  burn  Panama  in  case  the  government 
forces  attack  him  there.  As  the  burning  of  Panama  would  cause  the  destruction  of 
much  property  belonging  to  Americans,  interrupt  the  transit,  besides  being  an  act  of 
vandalism,  you  will  prevent  it,  if  possible,  with  the  force  under  your  command. 

I  gave  orders  to  this  effect  to  Colonel  Heywood  before  you  assumed  command  of  the 
force  on  the  Isthmus. 

I  also  learn,  by  rumor,  that  there  are  a  number  of  evil-disposed  persons  at  Matachin. 
You  will,  therefore,  please  direct  the  officer  commanding  that  post  to  be  vigilant,  in 
order  that  excesses  may  be  prevented  in  that  vicinity. 

I  do  not  intend  to  allow  any  arms  or  ammunition  to  be  introduced  into  this  country 
during  the  present  disturbance.  It  is  reported  to  me  that  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
boxes  of  cartridges  have  recently  been  landed  here  for  parties  on  the  Isthmus  by  the 
steamer  City  of  Para.  I  shall  have  them  sent  back  to  New  York  by  the  same  steamer. 
You  will  please  see  that  all  freight  arriving  at  the  Isthmus  is  examined  by  some  officer 
of  your  command,  and  will  not  allow  arms  or  ammunition  to  be  landed  without  my 
authority. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  strict  neutrality  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  to  avoid  in 
terruption  to  the  transit,  you  will  please  prevent  any  insurgent  force  from  landing  or 
operating  in  this  vicinity. 


226  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Please  keep  me  fully  informed  in  regard  to  all  matters  affecting  your  command  and 
our  interests  on  the  Isthmus. 

Send  daily  sick  report.  Very  respectfully, 

JAS.  E.  JOUETT, 

Rear-Admiral,  Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  N.  A.  Station. 
COMMANDER  B.  H.  MCCALLA,  U.S.N., 

Commanding  Naval  Force,  Isthmus  of  Panama. 

In  obedience  to  the  general  instructions  received  from  Rear-Admiral 
Jouett,  the  following  orders  were  issued : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  U.  S.  NAVAL  FORCE  ON  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  PANAMA, 

COLON,  April  16,  1885. 

SIR, — Proceed  to  Matachin,  in  a  special  train  that  will  be  provided  by  the  Panama 
Railroad  Company  to  follow  the  3  P.M.,  with  the  company  now  under  your  command, 
and  relieve  Lieutenant  Impey  and  the  garrison  now  at  that  place. 

I  have  directed  the  commanding  officers  of  a  section  of  artillery  and  of  a  Gatling 
gun  to  report  to  you  as  part  of  your  command. 

Your  duty  will  be  to  keep  the  transit  open,  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  Amer 
ican  citizens,  and  to  have  your  command  in  the  highest  state  of  efficiency.  Take  every 
precaution  to  preserve  the  health  and  lives  of  your  command. 

Prohibit  the  use  of  wines,  spirituous  and  malt  liquors.  Dispense  with  all  unnecessary 
ceremony  and  parades.  Instruct  your  men  in  the  early  morning  and  late  in  the  after 
noon,  avoiding  the  sun  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  Take  with  you  three  thousand 
rounds  of  rifle  ammunition  in  excess  of  what  has  been  served  out.  I  enclose  for  your 
guidance  a  copy  of  "  Notes  on  Sanitary  Precautions"  and  a  copy  of  General  Order  No. 
15,  North  Atlantic  Station. 

Very  respectfully, 

B.  H.  McCALLA, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
CAPTAIN  R.  W.  HUNTINGTON,  U.S.M.C., 

Commanding  Company  A,  Second  Battalion  U.  S.  Marines,  Colon. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  U.  S.  NAVAL  FORCE  ON  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  PANAMA, 

COLON,  April  16,  1885. 

SIR, — You  will  relieve  the  command  at  Garrison  No.  I  at  5.30  to-day.  You  will  dis 
pose  of  your  force  so  as  to  protect  the  water  approach  to  Colon.  A  3-inch  rifle  with 
thirty  rounds  shrapnel,  twenty  rounds  shell,  and  the  necessary  primers  and  fuses  will  be 
issued  to  you. 

Place  a  commissioned  officer  in  charge  of  this  gun,  and  direct  him  to  instruct  in  its 
use  the  men  necessary  to  work  it.  Issue  forty  rounds  of  ammunition  to  each  man,  and 
take  one  thousand  rounds  additional.  Protect  the  lives  and  property  of  American  citi 
zens.  Do  not  expose  your  men  to  the  sun  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  Instruct  them 
early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  take  every  precaution  to  protect  the 
health  and  lives  of  your  command.  Prohibit  the  use  of  wines,  spirituous  and  malt 
liquors.  Enclosed  you  will  find  for  your  guidance  General  Order  No.  I5>  North  Atlantic 
Station,  and  "  Notes  on  Sanitary  Precautions." 

Continue  to  carry  out  the  instructions  now  in  force  at  Garrison  No.  I. 

Very  respectfully, 

B.  H.  MCCALLA, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
CAPTAIN  R.  S.  COLLUM,  U.S.M.C., 

Commanding  Company  JB,  Second  Battalion,  Colon. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  227 

HEAD-QUARTERS  U.  S.  NAVAL  FORCE  ON  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  PANAMA, 

COLON,  April  16,  1885. 

SIR, — Order  Captain  George  C.  Reid,  with  his  company,  to  report  to  Lieutenant 
Mason  for  duty  in  connection  with  the  protection  of  trains  between  Colon  and  Panama; 
with  the  remaining  two  companies  of  Second  Battalion  relieve  Nos.  2  and  3  garrisons 
at  5.30  P.M.  to-day.  Acquaint  yourself  with  the  disposition  of  the  naval  forces  in  the 
vicinity  of  Colon,  as  well  as  the  approaches  to  that  place. 

Garrison  No.  3  is  head-quarters.  In  my  absence  you  will  have  command  of  the 
entire  naval  force  at  Colon.  Your  duty  is  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  American 
citizens.  There  is  a  force  of  one  hundred  men  of  the  Colombian  government  in 
Aspinwall.  Carry  out  the  orders  now  in  force  in  the  garrison.  Prohibit  the  use  of  all 
wines,  spirituous  and  malt  liquors  in  your  command,  and  take  every  precaution  to  pro 
tect  the  lives  and  health  of  your  officers  and  men.  Avoid  unnecessary  parades  and 
ceremonies.  Keep  your  men  out  of  the  sun  in  the  middle  of  the  day  as  much  as  pos 
sible.  Instruct  them  in  the  early  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon.  Issue  forty 
pounds  of  ammunition  to  each  man  and  take  one  thousand  rounds  extra  with  you  for 
each  company.  I  enclose  for  your  guidance  copies  of  General  Order  No.  15  and 
"  Notes  on  Sanitary  Precautions." 

One  Galling  gun  with  one  thousand  rounds  and  caisson  will  be  assigned  to  you. 
Be  pleased  to  place  it  in  charge  of  a  commissioned  officer  and  direct  him  to  instruct 
the  men  necessary  to  its  use. 

Very  Respectfully, 

B.  H.  McCALLA, 

Commander,  Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force. 
CAPTAIN  J.  H.  HIGBEE,  U.S.M.C., 

Commanding  Second  Battalion  Marines. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  U.  S.  NAVAL  FORCE  ON  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  PANAMA, 

COLON,  April  17,  1885. 

SIR, — You  will  relieve  Lieutenant  Hosley,  in  command  of  No.  4  garrison,  at  5.30 
to-day,  taking  with  you  the  remainder  of  your  battalion. 

Protect  the  lives  and  property  of  American  citizens.  Take  every  precaution  to 
protect  the  health  and  lives  of  your  command.  Keep  your  men  out  of  the  sun  in  the 
middle  of  the  day.  Instruct  them  early  in  the  morning  or  late  in  the  evening,  and 
avoid  all  unnecessary  parades  and  ceremonies.  Prohibit  the  use  of  wines,  spirituous 
and  malt  liquors.  Enclosed  you  will  find  for  your  guidance  General  Order  No.  15, 
North  Atlantic  Station,  and  "  Notes  on  Sanitary  Precautions."  Acquaint  yourself  with 
the  regulations  in  force  at  the  garrison  and  carry  them  out  until  further  orders. 

With  regard  to  this  garrison,  the  importance  of  guarding  the  causeway  by  which  an 
insurgent  force  would  be  apt  to  approach  is  called  to  your  attention. 

Very  Respectfully, 

B.  H.  McCALLA, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
LIEUTENANT  C.  O.  ALLIBONE,  U.S.N., 

Commanding  Catling  Battalion,  Colon. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  U.  S.  NAVAL  FORCE  ON  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  PANAMA, 

COLON,  April  16,  1885. 

SIR, — You  will  relieve  Lieutenant  Kimball  in  command  of  the  train  guards  in  time 
to  place  guards  on  the  early  train  to-morrow  morning.  Captain  George  C.  Reid, 
United  States  Marine  Corps,  has  been  directed  to  report  to  you  with  the  company 

15 


228  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

under  his  command.     In  addition,  you  will  have  the  two  remaining  sections  of  your 
battalion. 

Acquaint  yourself  with  the  duties  now  performed  by  Lieutenant  KimbalPs  command. 
Keep  the  transit  open.  Protect  the  lives  and  property  of  Americans.  Enforce  the 
regulations  of  the  railroad  company.  Consult  with  Mr.  Burt,  the  superintendent  of 
the  Panama  Railroad,  and  do  anything  in  your  power  to  aid  him  and  the  officials  of 
the  trains  in  guaranteeing  safe  conduct  to  passenger  and  freight.  Take  every  precau 
tion  to  preserve  the  health  and  lives  of  your  command.  Omit  unnecessary  ceremonies 
and  parades.  Prohibit  the  use  of  wines,  spirituous  and  malt  liquors.  Protect  the  men 
from  the  sun  as  much  as  possible  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  instructing  them  early  in  the 
morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon.  Your  attention  is  called  to  the  necessity  of  ex 
ercising  tact  in  the  important  duty  assigned  to  you. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  for  your  guidance  General  Order  No  15,  North  Atlantic 
Station,  and  "  Notes  on  Sanitary  Precautions." 

Very  respectfully,  B.  H.   McCALLA, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 

LIEUTENANT  T.  B.  M.  MASON,  U.S.N., 

Commanding  J3attalion  of  Rifled  Guns,   Colon. 

At  3  P.M.,  Captain  Huntington  departed  with  his  company,  by  special 
train,  for  Matachin.  At  4  P.M.  the  remainder  of  the  Second  Battalion 
and  the  detachment  of  sailors  disembarked,  and  at  5.30  P.M.  were  dis 
tributed  as  follows : 

COLON    GARRISON. 

Captain  J.  H.  Higbee,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  commanding  ; 
First  Lieutenant  W.  F.  Spicer,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  adjutant. 

Post  I. — Captain  R.  S.  Collum,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  com 
manding;  First  Lieutenant  S.  H.  Gibson,  United  States  Marine  Corps, 
and  Second  Lieutenant  H.  K.  Oilman,  United  States  Marine  Corps; 
Company  B,  Second  Battalion,  fifty  men,  and  one  3-inch  B.  L.  R. 

Post  2. — First  Lieutenant  F.  H.  Harrington,  United  States  Marine 
Corps,  commanding ;  First  Lieutenant  Henry  Whiting,  United  States 
Marine  Corps  ;  Company  E,  Second  Battalion,  fifty  men. 

Post  j. — Lieutenant  T.  B.  M.  Mason,  United  States  Navy,  command 
ing;  Lieutenant  Wainwright  Kellogg,  United  States  Navy ;  Ensign  H. 
M.  Witzel,  United  States  Navy,  and  thirty-one  blue-jackets  and  one 
Catling.  Captain  W.  S.  Muse,  United  States  Marine  Corps;  First  Lieu 
tenant  R.  Wallach,  United  States  Marine  Corps ;  Second  Lieutenant  F. 
E.  Sutton,  United  States  Marine  Corps ;  Company  C,  Second  Battalion, 
fifty  men.  Captain  G.  C.  Reid,  United  States  Marine  Corps;  First 
Lieutenant  W.  F.  Spicer,  United  States  Marine  Corps  ;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  S.  L.  Jackson,  United  States  Marine  Corps;  Company  D,  Second 
Battalion,  fifty  men. 

Post  4. — Lieutenant  C.  O.  Allibone,  United  States  Navy,  command 
ing  ;  Junior  Lieutenant  C.  J.  Badger,  United  States  Navy ;  Gunner  J. 
J.  Walsh,  United  States  Navy  ;  fifty  blue-jackets,  one  Gatling,  one 
3-inch  B.  L.  R. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  229 

Armored  car,  Hotchkiss  Rev.  Cannon,  one  Gatling,  one  S.  B. 
howitzer. 

Paymaster  Stephen  Rand,  United  States  Navy,  clerk,  and  yeoman. 

Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  Robert  Whiting,  United  States  Navy,  and 
apothecary. 

GARRISONS    OF    MATACHIN    DISTRICT. 

Captain  R.  W.  Huntington,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  command 
ing. 

Matachin  Post. — Second  Lieutenant  Carroll  Mercer,  United  States 
Marine  Corps,  thirty-nine  Marines  ;  Junior  Lieutenant  J.  C.  Colwell, 
thirty-eight  blue-jackets,  one  Gatling,  and  one  3-inch  B.  L.  R. 

San  Pablo  Post.— First  Lieutenant  George  F.  Elliott,  United  States 
Marine  Corps,  commanding,  thirteen  Marines ;  Junior  Lieutenant  Alex 
ander  Sharp,  twelve  blue-jackets,  one  i2-pounder  S.  B. 

The  forces  were  now  disposed  on  the  Isthmus  as  follows : 

Commander  B.  H.  McCalla,  commanding  United  States  naval  force. 

Personal  Staff. — Lieutenant  W.  S.  Cowles,  United  States  Navy; 
Lieutenant  W.  H.  Reeder,  United  States  Navy. 

General  Staff. — Paymaster  Stephen  Rand,  Jr.,  United  States  Navy  ; 
Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  Robert  Whiting,  United  States  Navy. 

NAVAL    BRIGADE. 

Head-quarters ',  Panama. 

Major  and  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  Heywood,  United 
States  Marine  Corps,  commanding ;  First  Lieutenant  H.  G.  Ellsworth, 
United  States  Marine  Corps,  adjutant-general ;  First  Lieutenant  A.  C. 
Kelton,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  brigade  commissary  and  quarter 
master;  Passed  Assistant-Surgeon  F.  N.  Ogden,  United  States  Navy, 
surgeon  ;  Assistant-Surgeon  M.  H.  Crawford,  United  States  Navy. 

PANAMA   GARRISON. 

First  Battalion. — Captain  R.  L.  Meade,  United  States  Marine  Corps, 
commanding;  Second  Lieutenant  F.  E.  Sutton,  adjutant;  Sergeant 
M.  Harrington,  sergeant-major.  Company  A  :  Captain  E.  P.  Meeker, 
commanding ;  Second  Lieutenant  T.  G.  Fillette  ;  three  sergeants,  five 
corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-two  privates.  Company  B : 
Captain  L.  E.  Fagan,  commanding;  three  sergeants,  five  corporals,  one 
drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-one  privates.  Company  C :  Captain  H.  C. 
Cochrane,  commanding;  First  Lieutenant  F.  L.  Denny;  four  sergeants, 
five  corporals,  forty-one  privates.  Company  D  :  First  Lieutenant  O.  C. 
Berryman,  commanding;  First  Lieutenant  W.  C.  Turner;  three  ser 
geants,  four  corporals,  forty-one  privates.  Company  E  :  First  Lieutenant 


230  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Jesup  Nicholson,  commanding ;  Second  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Clark ; 
three  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty-one 
privates. 

COLON    GARRISON. 

Second  Battalion. — Captain  J.  H.  Higbee,  United  States  Marine 
Corps,  commanding ;  First  Lieutenant  William  F.  Spicer,  adjutant ; 
First  sergeant  E.  G.  Arnot,  sergeant-major.  Company  A  :  Captain  R. 
W.  Huntington,  commanding  (Matachin  District) ;  First  Lieutenant 
G.  F.  Elliott;  Second  Lieutenant  Carroll  Mercer;  four  sergeants,  four 
corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty  privates.  Company  B  :  Captain 
R.  S.  Collum,  commanding;  First  Lieutenant  S.  H.  Gibson;  Second 
Lieutenant  H.  K.  Gilman ;  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  drummer, 
one  fifer,  forty  privates.  Company  C :  Captain  William  S.  Muse,  com 
manding  ;  First  Lieutenant  Richard  Wallach ;  four  sergeants,  four  cor 
porals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  forty  privates.  Company  D :  Captain 
G.  C.  Reid,  commanding ;  Second  Lieutenant  S.  L.  Jackson  ;  five  ser 
geants,  four  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  thirty-nine  privates. 
Company  E:  First  Lieutenant  F.  H.  Harrington,  commanding;  First 
Lieutenant  Henry  Whiting ;  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  fifer, 
forty  privates. 

THIRD    BATTALION. 

From  Vessels  on  the  North  Atlantic  Station,  Colon. — Captain  J.  M.  T. 
Young,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  commanding;  First  Lieutenant  C. 
M.  Perkins,  adjutant.  First  Sergeant  R.  McClure,  sergeant-major. 

Company  A:  First  Lieutenant  M.  C.  Goodrell,  commanding;  three 
sergeants,  three  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  twenty-six  privates. 
Company  B  :  First  Lieutenant  L.  J.  Gulick,  commanding;  two  sergeants, 
three  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  twenty-six  privates.  Company 
C  :  Second  Lieutenant  C.  A.  Doyen,  commanding;  two  sergeants,  three 
corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  twenty-six  privates. 

Independent  Company  from  the  United  States  Ship  Shenandoah,  Pacific 
Station,  Panama. — First  Lieutenant  T.  N.  Wood,  commanding;  two 
sergeants,  two  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer,  eighteen  privates. 

Independent  Company  from  the  United  States  Ship  Iroquois,  Pacific 
Station. — First  Lieutenant  H.  C.  Fisher,  United  States  Marine  Corps, 
commanding ;  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  one  drummer,  one  fifer, 
eighteen  privates. 

Battalion  of  Gatling  Guns. — Lieutenant  C.  O.  Allibone,  commanding. 
First  Section:  Lieutenant  C.  J.  Badger,  United  States  Navy;  twenty- 
three  seamen.  Second  Section:  Gunner  J.  J.  Walsh,  United  States 
Navy ;  twenty-four  seamen.  Third  Section :  Lieutenant  Alexander 
Sharp,  United  States  Navy  ;  twenty-six  seamen. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  231 

Gatling  Detachment  from  United  States  Ship  Alliance. — Naval  Cadet  C. 
P.  Pltmkett,  United  States  Navy,  commanding;  twenty  seamen. 

Detachment  from  United  States  Ship  Shenandoah. — Lieutenant  E.  M. 
Hughes,  commanding;  Ensign  J.  H.  Oliver,  United  States  Navy;  3-inch 
breech-loading  rifle,  .twenty  seamen;  i2-pounder  howitzer,  twenty  sea 
men  ;  Gatling  gun,  twenty  seamen. 

Battalion  of  3 -inch  Rifles, — Lieutenant  T.  B.  M.  Mason,  United  States 
Navy,  commanding.  First  Section :  Lieutenant  Wainwright  Kellog, 
United  States  Navy  ;  twenty-five  seamen.  Second  Section  :  Lieutenant 
J.  C.  Colwell,  United  States  Navy  ;  twenty-six  seamen.  Third  Section  : 
Ensign  H.  M.  Witzel,  United  States  Navy;  twenty-six  seamen. 

Artillery  Detachment  from  United  States  Ship  Swatara. — Lieutenant 
F.  E.  Sawyer,  United  States  Navy,  commanding  ;  Naval  Cadet  J.  K. 
Seymour,  United  States  Navy;  twenty-two  seamen. 

Force  at  Camp  Jouett  (during  occupation  of  the  city). — Lieutenant 
L.  Young,  United  States  Navy,  commanding  ;  thirty  seamen. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2ist  of  April,  Commander  McCalla  transferred 
his  head-quarters  from  Colon  to  Panama.  On  the  same  day  Admiral 
Jouett  inspected  the  several  garrisons,  and  returned  to  Colon  on  the 
same  afternoon. 

At  this  time  it  was  reported  that  the  national  troops  at  Buenaventura 
were  being  embarked  in  the  iron  steamer  Guayaquil.  On  that  day 
Captain  Higbee  was  directed  to  order  Companies  B  and  D,  Second  Bat 
talion,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Collum,  to  proceed  to  Panama 
by  the  three-o'clock  train.  After  the  arrival  of  these  companies,  they, 
with  a  Gatling  from  the  Alliance,  Lieutenant  Sawyer,  United  States 
Navy,  and  a  howitzer  from  the  Swatara,  Ensign  Plunkett,  United  States 
Navy,  all  under  the  command  of  Captain  Collum,  were  quartered  at 
night  in  cars  at  the  new  passenger  station,  extending  our  lines  to  the 
bridge  crossing  the  railroad. 

On  the  23d  information  was  received  that  seven  hundred  national 
troops  had  embarked  in  the  Boyaca,  the  hulk  Guayaquil,  and  a  schooner, 
with  a  tow  of  three  whale-boats  to  land  the  men  at  Panama. 

Commander  McCalla  says  that,  "On  the  24th  it  was  reported  that 
barricades  were  being  erected  in  the  streets  of  Panama,  an  indication 
that  General  Aizpuru  would  resist  the  national  forces,  and  that  fighting 
in  the  streets  would  follow."  At  11.55  A-M-  our  consul-general  called 
on  Commander  McCalla,  and  notified  him  that  two  barricades  were 
being  erected  at  certain  points,  and  that  in  consequence  communication 
would  be  cut  off  with  the  Central  and  South  American  cable  office. 

Commander  McCalla  considered  it  necessary,  therefore,  to  occupy  the 
city,  and  he  notified  Rear-Admiral  Jouett  of  his  intention.  Captain 
Higbee  was  directed  to  send  the  entire  force  at  Colon  by  special  train. 
At  one  o'clock  the  disposition  of  the  force  for  an  entry  into  Panama  was 


232  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

completed,  and  as  soon  as  the  boats  from  the  Shenandoah  were  in  sight, 
Colonel  Heywood  was  ordered  to  advance  with  his  whole  force,  and 
occupy  the  positions  in  the  city  as  indicated  by  previous  orders. 

Tanks  of  powder  and  a  Farmer's  dynamo-machine,  with  wire  and 
fuzes,  had  been  obtained  from  the  Shenandoah,  to  be  used,  if  necessary, 
to  blow  up  the  buildings. 

The  advance  was  made  in  three  columns.  The  right  column,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Collum,  composed  of  Companies  B,  First 
Lieutenant  Gibson,  Second  Lieutenant  Oilman,  D,  Captain  Reid,  Second 
Lieutenant  Jackson,  Second  Battalion,  one  field  piece  and  one  Gatling, 
Lieutenant  Sawyer,  United  States  Navy,  and  Cadet  Plunkett,  United 
States  Navy,  advanced  from  the  new  passenger  station  at  the  bridge, 
along  the  chemin  de  la  Savanne,  and  the  Carrera  del  Isthme,  to  the 
Plaza  Santa  Anna.  The  centre  column,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Meade,  composed  of  Companies  C,  Captain  Cochrane,  First  Lieutenant 
Denny,  E,  First  Lieutenant  Nicholson,  Second  Lieutenant  Clark,  First 
Battalion,  one  field-piece  and  one  Gatling  gun,  Ensign  Witzel,  United 
States  Navy,  and  Cadet  Seymour,  United  States  Navy,  advanced  from  its 
position  at  the  Panama  Railroad  Company's  buildings  to  the  cable  office 
by  the  Carrera  de  Colon.  The  left  column,  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  the  brigade-commander,  Colonel  Heywood,  composed  of 
Companies  A,  Captain  Meeker,  Second  Lieutenant  Fillette,  B,  Captain 
Fagan,  First  Battalion,  one  3-inch  rifle  and  one  Gatling  gun,  Lieu 
tenant  Hughes,  United  States  Navy,  and  Ensign  Oliver,  United  States 
Navy,  advanced,  by  a  street  running  parallel  with  the  beach,  to  the 
Plaza  Alfaro ;  thence  by  the  Carrera  de  Cordova  to  the  American  con 
sulate  and  the  Pacific  Mail  office.  The  advance  was  made  without 
music,  by  the  right  flank,  deployed  for  street  firing,  a  distance  of  one 
yard  between  each  file,  the  front  and  rear  ranks  marching  as  close  as 
possible  to  the  houses  on  either  side  and  the  artillery  in  the  centre. 
Each  man  carried  eighty  rounds;  the  artillery  was  ready  for  action,  and 
four  men,  on  the  right  of  each  company,  carried  axes  slung.  The  Plaza 
Santa  Anna,  a  part  of  the  city  occupied  by  the  worst  classes,  was  reached 
by  the  right  column,  and  the  cathedral  occupied  without  meeting  resist 
ance. 

A  barricade  in  the  Carrera  de  Caldas  was  captured  by  the  column 
under  captain  Meade  and  destroyed.  It  was  made  of  heavy  wooden 
posts  set  in  the  ground  three  feet  apart,  connected  by  boarding  to  be 
backed  by  earth.  A  barricade  in  the  Carrera  de  Ricuarte,  constructed  of 
sand-bags,  was  overcome  by  Colonel  Heywood,  occupied,  and  a  Gatling 
mounted  behind  it  trained  on  a  cuartel  garrisoned  by  three  hundred 
insurgents.  In  the  Cathedral  de  Santa  Anna  a  howitzer  was  placed  in 
position,  loaded  with  shrapnel,  at  the  front  entrance,  and  a  Gatling  at  the 
rear  trained  on  a  cuartel  of  insurgents.  The  insurgent  president,  Rafael 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  233 

Aizpuru,  and  his  secretaries  of  war  and  state  were  arrested  by  Colonel 
Heywood  near  the  consulate  of  the  United  States,  and  confined  in  the 
Grand  Central  Hotel,  in  the  custody  of  Lieutenant  Reeder,  United  States 
Navy,  with  a  guard  from  Company  A,  First  Battalion. 

While  the  military  necessity  for  the  occupation  of  the  city  has  been 
much  criticised,  yet  the  plan  was  boldly  conceived,  and  the  execution 
of  this  conception  was  brilliantly  and  successfully  carried  out  by  Colonel 
Heywood.  In  thirty  minutes  from  the  time  the  signal  was  made  the 
United  States  forces  had  complete  possession  of  the  city. 

The  force  was  now  disposed  as  follows : 

Head-quarters,  Commander  McCalla,  with  his  staff,  occupied  the  Grand 
Central  Hotel. 

Head-quarters  of  the  brigade,  Colonel  Heywood,  with  his  staff,  occupied 
the  American  consulate. 

Company  C,  First  Battalion,  Captain  Cochrane,  was  at  the  Cable 
Company's  office;  Company  E,  of  the  First  Battalion,  Lieutenant 
Nicholson,  a  short  Gatling,  and  twenty  sailors,  under  Ensign  H.  M. 
Witzel,  were  at  the  sand-bag  barricade  in  the  Carrera  de  Ricuarte;  Com 
pany  B,  First  Battalion,  Captain  Fagan,  was  stationed  at  the  consulate; 
Company  A,  First  Battalion,  Captain  Meeker,  was  stationed  at  the 
Pacific  Mail  Company's  office,  as  also  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
First  Battalion,  Captain  Meade ;  Lieutenant  Hughes,  United  States 
Navy,  with  twenty  sailors  and  a  short  Gatling,  was  stationed  at  the 
junction  of  the  Carrera  de  Sucre  and  the  Cathedral  Plaza.  Ensign 
Oliver,  United  States  Navy,  with  twenty  sailors  and  a  3-inch  breech- 
loading  rifle,  was  stationed  at  the  junction  of  the  Carrera  de  Sucre  and 
the  Carrera  de  Cordova.  Captain  Colhim  occupied  the  Plaza  Santa 
Anna,  the  most  important  position  in  the  city,  with  Company  B,  Second 
Battalion,  Lieutenants  Gibson  and  Gilman  ;  Company  D,  First  Battalion, 
Lieutenant  O.  C.  Berryman,  forty  sailors  with  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
Junior  Lieutenant  F.  E.  Sawyer,  United  States  Navy,  and  Naval  Cadet 
Seymour,  United  States  Navy.  A  line  of  sentries  was  posted  from  the 
Plaza  Santa  Anna  along  the  Carrera  Chiriqui  to  the  bay,  and  another 
along  the  Carrera  de  Bocas  Toro  to  the  sea,  the  former  connecting  with 
a  line  running  parallel  with  the  bay  to  Camp  Jouett.  At  Camp  Jouett 
there  were  the  detachments  of  Marines  from  the  Shenandoah  and  Iroquois, 
under  Lieutenants  Wood  and  Fisher,  and  a  detachment  of  sailors  under 
Lieutenant  Lucien  Young,  United  States  Navy.  Lieutenant  Mason, 
United  States  Navy,  was  placed  in  command  at  Camp  Jouett. 

The  garrison  from  Colon,  consisting  of  Companies  C,  Captain  Muse,  and 
E,  Lieutenant  Harrington,  Second  Battalion,  two  sections  of  Gatling  and 
two  sections  of  rifled  guns,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Allibone, 
United  States  Navy,  arrived  about  5  P.M.  Before  sunset  a  strong  picket- 
line  was  thrown  across  the  peninsula  on  which  the  city  was  built,  ex- 


234  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

tending  from  Camp  Jouett  to  the  shore  on  the  south.  This  line  was  occu 
pied  by  Companies  D,  Captain  Reid,  and  E,  Lieutenant  Harrington, 
three  Catlings  under  Lieutenant  Badger,  Naval  Cadet  Plunkett,  and  Gun 
ner  Walsh,  the  whole  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Allibone. 

Company  C,  Captain  Muse,  was  sent  to  the  office  of  the  Pacific  Mail 
Steamship  Company. 

About  7  P.M.  there  was  a  quarrel  between  some  citizens  in  the  Cathe 
dral  Square,  during  which  several  shots  were  exchanged.  The  Gatling 
gun  in  the  Calle  Sucre,  sufficiently  elevated  to  clear  the  tops  of  the 
houses,  was  fired  across  the  plaza,  clearing  it  in  a  few  seconds.  In 
accordance  with  strict  orders  from  Colonel  Heywood,  the  city  was 
thoroughly  patrolled  during  the  night,  and  no  disturbance  occurred. 

The  Third  Battalion,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Young,  United 
States  Marine  Corps,  arrived  at  Panama  at  10  P.M.,  and  was  quartered 
for  the  night  in  the  railroad-station. 

On  the  following  day  the  commanding  officer  of  the  insurgent  troops 
asked  Commander  McCalla  if  the  force  would  be  withdrawn  to  Camp 
Jouett,  provided  that  a  guarantee  were  given  that  no  barricades  should 
be  erected,  and  that  no  street  fighting  should  be  permitted.  An  affirma 
tive  reply  was  made,  and,  at  the  request  of  the  officer,  Commander 
McCalla  saw  General  Aizpuru.  He  offered  to  give  the  guarantee  before 
mentioned.  An  agreement  was  therefore  signed  by  both  parties.  At 
5.30  P.M.  Company  D,  Captain  Reid,  and  the  Gatling  from  the  Alliance, 
reported  to  Captain  Collum,  at  the  Plaza  Santa  Anna.  The  naval  force 
was  withdrawn  from  the  city  at  8  P.M.,  except  the  force  in  the  Plaza 
Santa  Anna,  which  remained  until  9  P.M. 

The  position  at  the  railroad  depot,  occupied  by  Colonel  Heywood 
when  he  opened  the  transit,  was  the  best  one  strategically  that  could 
have  been  selected.  From  the  new  passenger  station  all  roads  leading 
from  the  city  could  be  occupied  in  a  very  short  time. 

On  the  26th  there  was  a  fight  between  Jamaicans  and  Colombians,  at 
Paraiso  Station,  seven  and  a  half  miles  from  Panama.  The  railroad  offi 
cials  reported  that  the  station-house  had  been  fired  into  the  previous 
night,  and  that  the  workmen  were  in  fear  of  their  lives.  Captain  Reid, 
with  his  company,  was  sent  to  Paraiso  to  quell  the  disturbances  there, 
which  duty  he  performed  successfully  with  great  credit  to  himself  and 
his  command. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  Boyaca,  with  the  canal  tug, 
hulk  Guayaquil,  schooner,  and  three  whale-boats  were  seen  in  the  bay. 
Lieutenant  Reeder  was  sent  to  call  on  the  commander-in-chief  to  present 
the  compliments  of  the  commander  of  the  forces,  with  a  communication 
requesting  the  commander  of  the  national  forces  not  to  land  within  our 
lines. 

Colonel  Montoya,  who  had  been  appointed  military  and  civil  chief  of 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  235 

the  state  of  Panama,  was  on  board  the  Boyaca,  as  well  as  Colonel  Reyes, 
the  commander-in-chief  of  the  military  force,  which  consisted  of  about 
eight  hundred  men. 

Rear-Admiral  Jouett  having  come  to  Panama  on  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  the  28th,  on  Wednesday  Colonels  Reyes,  Montoya,  and  Aiz- 
puru,  met  in  the  railroad  office,  Rear-Admiral  Jouett  presiding  at  the 
conference.  The  conference  resulted  in  an  agreement  being  signed 
between  the  representatives  of  the  Colombian  government  and  Aizpuru, 
by  which  the  latter  was  to  surrender. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  3oth  the  government  troops  landed 
at  the  railroad  wharf  and  encamped  near  the  bridge  occupied  by  two 
companies  of  the  Second  Battalion.  By  the  terms  of  this  agreement 
the  national  troops  marched  into  the  city  from  their  camp  in  the  savannah, 
at  i  P.M.,  on  Thursday  the  3oth  ;  a  battalion  under  Captain  Collum,  con 
sisting  of  Companies  B,  Lieutenant  Gibson,  and  E,  Lieutenant  Har 
rington  ;  Second  Battalion,  one  Gatling  section  and  one  B.  L.  R.  section, 
Lieutenant  Sawyer  and  Ensign  Seymour,  were  drawn  up  on  the  road  in 
front  of  the  new  passenger  station,  and  presented  arms  as  the  Colombian 
force  under  Colonel  Reyes  marched  past.  The  latter  halted  his  command 
and  returned  the  salute.  On  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Reyes  at  the  palace, 
the  Colombian  flag  was  hoisted  in  Camp  Jouett,  and  a  national  salute 
fired  from  head-quarters.  On  Friday,  May  i,  the  four  companies  of  the 
Second  Battalion  and  the  Naval  Artillery  returned  to  Colon,  and  on 
the  yth  of  May  this  expeditionary  force  sailed  in  the  Pacific  Mail  steam 
ship  Colon  for  New  York,  where  it  arrived  on  the  i6th. 

GENERAL  ORDER  No.  19. 

NORTH  ATLANTIC  STATION, 
U.  S.  FLAG-SHIP  TENNESSEE  (first  rate), 

ASPINWALL,  U.S.C.,  May  7,  1885. 

The  commander-in-chief  takes  great  pleasure  in  expressing  to  all  the  officers  and 
men  of  his  command  his  high  appreciation  of  their  services  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
Their  strict  attention  to  duty,  their  high  state  of  discipline  and  efficiency,  their  prompt 
ness  in  emergencies,  and,  above  all,  their  forbearance  in  delicate  and  critical  situations, 
have  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all. 

He  will  not  fail  to  represent  fully  to  the  Navy  Department  how  well  all  have  done, 
and  with  what  alacrity  and  devotion  officers  and  men  have  hastened  at  every  call  of 
duty. 

He  extends  his  sincere  congratulations  to  all  his  command,  that  the  object  of  their 
mission  has  been  accomplished  peacefully,  and  with  honor  to  themselves  and  to  their 
country. 

To  those  who  are  about  to  return  to  their  homes  he  wishes  a  joyous  meeting  with 
their  friends,  and  to  each  and  all  long  life  and  happiness. 

This  order  will  be  read  at  muster  on  board  each  vessel  of  the  squadron,  and  to  the 
battalions  on  shore. 

JAS.  E.  JOUETT, 
Rear- Admiral,  Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  N.  A.  Station. 


236 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


The  First  Battalion,  the  first  to  arrive  and  the  last  to  leave  the  Isthmus, 
which  was  only  when  entire  tranquillity  had  been  restored,  sailed  in  the 
Acapulco  for  New  York,  on  the  22d  of  May. 

Before  sailing,  the  following  letter  was  addressed  to  Colonel  Heywood 
by  Admiral  Jouett : 

ASPINWALL,  U.S.C.,  May  22,  1885. 

COLONEL  CHARLES  HEYWOOD,  U.S.M.C.,  COMMANDING  MARINE  BATTALION,  ISTH 
MUS  OF  PANAMA: 
SIR  — 

Your  departure  from  the  Isthmus  with  your  command  gives  me  occasion  to  ex 
press  my  high  estimation  of  the  Marine  battalion.  You  and  your  battalion  came  from 
home  at  the  first  sound  of  alarm,  and  you  have  done  hard  and  honest  work.  The 
Marine  battalion  has  been  constantly  at  the  front,  where  danger  and  disease  were 
sure  to  come,  first  and  always.  When  a  conflict  has  seemed  imminent,  I  have  relied 
with  most  implicit  confidence  on  that  body  of  tried  soldiers.  No  conflict  has  come,  but 
I  am  well  aware  how  nobly  and  steadily,  through  weary  and  anxious  nights,  exposed  to 
a  deadly  climate,  the  Marines  have  guarded  our  country's  interest. 

Please  communicate  to  your  command  my  grateful  acknowledgment  of  their  faithful 
service  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  earnest  and 
valuable  assistance. 

(Signed)  JAS.  E.  JOUETT, 

Rear-Admiral  Commanding. 

The  following  table  gives  the  total  force  of  Marines  under  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Heywood  during  the  occupation  of  the  Isthmus : 


«"** 

. 

| 

Is 

C 

1 

*rt  -*J 

•w 

V 

C    C 

«  g 

a 

£ 

"O 

(« 

c 

*rt 

1 

d 

3 

ft 

l-i 

8 

& 

ft 
u 

| 

U 

rt 

Is 

o 

CJ 

fa 

en 

in 

c3 

° 

£ 

PL, 

H 

First  Battalion 

I 

6 

17 

21 

•3 

-J 

2O6 

266 

Second  Battalion  .... 

c 

6 

2 

22 

2O 

4 

5 

199 

763 

Third  Battalion 

2 

2 

8 

Q 

7 

•j 

78 

106 

First  Independent  Co.  .    . 
Second  Independent  Co.  . 

I 
I 

2 
2 

2 

2 

I 
I 

i 
i 

18 
18 

25 

25 

• 

10 

16 

7 

51 

56 

12 

13 

519 

685 

Extract  from  official  report  of  Commander  McCalla : 

While  all  the  officers  did  well,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Depart 
ment  to  those  who  came  under  my  immediate  observation. 

Lieutenants  Cowles  and  Reeder,  of  whose  professional  attainments  I  had  formed  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  237 

highest  opinion,  were  invaluable.  My  association  with  them  on  the  Isthmus  only  served 
to  increase  my  respect  for  their  ability  and  qualifications  as  naval  officers.  Paymaster 
Rand  proved  himself  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  duties  required  of  him,  and  was 
most  energetic  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  detachments  stationed  along  the  line. 
Passed  Assistant-Surgeons  Whiting  and  Ogden  had  not  only  their  own  legitimate  duties 
to  perform,  but  the  work  of  apothecaries  as  well.  Passed  Assistant-Surgeons  Percy, 
Drake,  and  Ashbridge,  temporarily  assigned  to  duty  from  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron, 
were  most  watchful  and  attentive  to  the  sick  men  under  their  care.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Heywood,  whose  reputation  as  a  soldier  is  well  known  in  the  Navy,  was  constantly  on 
the  alert  and  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  prevent  the  garrison  at  Panama  from 
being  surprised.  Captain  Huntington,  of  whom  I  had  formed  a  high  opinion,  com 
manded  the  district  of  Matachin  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner.  Lieutenant  Allibone 
is  one  of  the  best  officers  I  have  ever  known.  It  was  only  necessary  to  outline  to  him 
instructions  to  feel  sure  that  the  details  would  be  thoroughly  and  promptly  executed. 
Constantly  looking  after  the  welfare  and  comfort  of  his  men,  they  were  always  in  a  high 
state  of  efficiency.  Captain  Collum  proved  himself  in  every  way  deserving  of  the  high 
reputation  he  enjoys  in  the  service.  He  was  at  all  times  to  be  depended  upon,  and 
when  directed  to  hold  the  Plaza  Santa  Anna  I  knew  it  would  be  done.  Captains  Reid 
and  Harrington  proved  themselves  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  details  of  their  pro 
fession.  Lieutenant  Elliott,  who  commanded  the  garrison  of  San  Pablo  under  the 
general  direction  of  Captain  Huntington,  is  a  remarkably  good  officer.  Thrown  upon 
his  own  resources,  he  at  once  established  an  excellent  set  of  regulations  for  the  govern 
ment  of  the  post.  .  .  . 

It  was  afterwards  found  necessary  to  increase  the  force  under  Lieutenant  Elliott,  and 
to  order  Second  Lieutenant  Gilman,  from  Colon  to  San  Pablo.  Lieutenant  Oilman  is  a 
valuable  and  accomplished  officer,  always  ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to  go  where  his 
services  were  required.  .  .  . 

First  Lieutenant  A.  C.  Kelton,  the  brigade  quartermaster,  was  always  equal  to  the 
many  and  sometimes  unusual  demands  made  upon  him.  During  the  occupation  of 
Panama  he  displayed  great  energy  in  supplying  the  various  detachments  with  food. 
First  Lieutenant  F.  C.  Denny  performed  his  duty  thoroughly  while  in  command  of  a 
platoon  of  his  company  in  the  hotel  in  which  General  Aizpuru  was  detained. 

My  attention  was  called  to  the  coolness  of  Ensign  Witzell,  who  had  charge  of  the 
Gatling  gun  at  the  barricade  in  front  of  the  cuartel.  Ensign  James  M.  Oliver,  attached 
to  the  Shenandoah,  had  been  ill  from  the  effects  of  fever  for  some  days,  and  was 
directed  to  return  to  his  ship  for  treatment  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  April. 
To  my  surprise  I  found  him  at  his  gun  in  Panama  during  the  night  of  the  24th, 
although  such  exposure  was  likely  to  cause  serious  effects.  Such  behavior  is  very 
commendable. 

The  conduct  and  efficiency  of  the  non-commissioned  and  petty  officers  are  worthy  of 
the  highest  praise.  The  behavior  of  the  enlisted  men  was  admirable ;  less  than  three 
per  cent,  were  found  to  be  unreliable  on  duty  or  in  camp.  When  the  peculiar  tempta 
tions  to  which  they  were  subjected  in  the  trying  climate  of  the  Isthmus  are  considered, 
this  fact  is  highly  creditable  to  them. 

In  conclusion,  I  desire  to  state  that  I  consider  it  a  great  honor  to  have  commanded 
so  fine  a  body  of  officers  and  men. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  H.  McCALLA, 
Commander  U.  S.  Navy. 

HON.  W.  C.  WHITNEY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


238  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Consul-General  Adamson  has  officially  stated  that  the  firm  bearing, 
strict  discipline,  and  splendid  conduct  of  the  Marines  reflected  great 
credit  upon  Colonel  Heywood  and  his  officers,  and  the  presence  of  these 
fine  troops  allayed  anxiety  and  distrust,  enabling  the  foreign  residents  to 
feel  that  security  which  could  not  be  obtained  under  any  other  circum 
stances.  The  commander  of  an  English  gunboat  lying  off  Panama,  when 
told  that  a  brigade  of  Marines  was  in  possession  of  the  Isthmus,  remarked 
that  "tranquillity  was  then  assured,"  that  "he  knew  what  they  were, 
having  seen  a  detachment  of  the  Corps  at  Alexandria." 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

1889. — Disaster  at  Apia,  Samoa. 

ON  the  i5th  and  i6th  of  March,  a  hurricane  of  great  force  swept  the 
waters  of  the  harbor,  in  which  were  lying  at  anchor  the  following  men- 
of-war  :  United  States  ships  Trenton,  Vandalia,  and  Nipsic  ;  H.  B.  M. 
ship  Calliope,  and  H.  I.  G.  M.  ships  Adler,  Olga,  and  Eber.  There 
were  also  a  few  merchant  vessels  and  small  craft.  The  Nipsic  had  the 
inner  berth,  and  the  Trenton  (last  to  arrive)  had  the  outer  berth. 

The  following  are  the  official  reports  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
Trenton  and  the  executive  officer  of  the  Vandalia,  the  two  American 
vessels  sunk  on  that  occasion  : 

REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  N.  H.  FARQUHAR,  COMMANDING  UNITED  STATES 

SHIP  TRENTON. 

APIA,  SAMOA,  March  19,  1889. 

SIR, — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  United  States  flag-ship  Trenton,  under 
my  command,  was  driven  ashore  in  a  hurricane  on  Saturday,  March  16,  about  8  P.M., 
alongside  the  wreck  of  the  United  States  ship  Vandalia  in  this  harbor. 

The  ship  lias  since  filled  with  water  and,  in  my  opinion,  has  broken  in  two  places, — 
abreast  the  mizzen  mast  and  near  the  smoke-stack. 

It  is  possible  the  ship  might  be  floated  to  dock  with  the  assistance  of  powerful  pumps 
used  by  wrecking  companies,  but,  as  there  are  no  facilities  of  this  kind,  she  will  be  a 
total  loss. 

On  Thursday,  March  14,  the  wind  came  out  approximately  from  the  southward,  with 
much  rain,  the  barometer  slowly  falling,  being  29.70  at  noon,  29.60  at  midnight;  the 
force  of  the  wind  from  2  to  4.  During  the  mid-watch,  March  15,  got  up  steam,  wind 
remaining  in  the  same  direction  and  varying  from  o  to  4,  the  barometer  falling  from 
29.60  to  29.56.  At  4  A.M.  the  wind,  and  until  8  A.M.,  was  from  2  to  6  in  force,  the 
barometer  at  8  A.M.  being  29.42. 

By  noon,  though  the  barometer  fell  to  29.30,  the  wind  had  not  increased  nor  practi 
cally  changed  in  direction. 

During  this  watch  prepared  to  send  down  lower  yards  and  house  topmasts.     From 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  239 

meridian  to  4  P.M.  sent  down  lower  yards,  housed  topmasts,  and  made  preparations  for 
bad  weather.  At  I  P.M.  the  wind  was  east,  force  I  to  2,  barometer  29.24;  at  2  P.M. 
wind  variable,  force  I  to  2,  barometer  29.20;  at  3  P.M.  wind  northeast,  force  2  to  4, 
barometer  29.20;  at  4  P.M.  wind  north,  force  4  to  7,  barometer  29.29. 

This  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  gale  had  broken  and  that  the  wind  would  haul  to  the 
west.  Instead,  however,  it  backed  to  the  northeast,  barometer  rising  at  8  P.M.,  being 
29.36,  wind  northeast,  force  4  to  8. 

Up  to  this  time  the  ship  was  moored  with  fifty-two  fathoms  on  port  bower,  forty-five 
fathoms  on  starboard  bower,  with  starboard  sheet  under  foot.  At  7.57  parted  port 
bower  chain,  let  go  port  sheet,  steamed  ahead,  veering  to  sixty  fathoms  on  it  and  star 
board  bower. 

The  barometer  during  this  watch,  8  P.M.  to  midnight,  was  steady  about  29.40,  wind 
northeast  by  north  to  north- northeast,  force  7  to  8.  Midwatch  of  March  16,  barometer 
29.36  to  29.38,  wind  north-northeast,  force  7  to  8,  steaming  ahead  slowly  to  relieve 
strain  upon  anchors.  At  6  A.M.  barometer  fell  to  29.23,  wind  north  by  east,  force  6  to 
9,  tremendous  sea.  About  7  A.M.  wheel-ropes  carried  away,  rudder  broken  in  two 
pieces,  so  as  to  be  useless.  About  9  A.M.  wind  came  out  from  north,  force  8  to  10, 
barometer  rising  to  29.30  at  II  A.M.  At  9.30  fires  were  extinguished  by  water  in  fire- 
room,  which  came  from  hawse-pipes,  notwithstanding  every  precaution  in  the  way  of 
jackasses,  hammocks,  etc.,  having  been  used  to  keep  the  water  out,  but  being,  on  the 
berth-deck,  low  down,  and  a  full-bowed  ship,  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  water  out. 
The  hand-  as  well  as  steam-pumps  were  going,  with  men  bailing  besides,  and  the  hatches 
battened  down. 

I  attribute  the  loss  of  the  ship  primarily  to  the  location  of  the  hawse-pipes.  I  have 
several  times  reported  officially  against  their  location  to  the  Navy  Department. 

Up  to  noon  the  ship  had  dragged  very  little,  if  any;  at  noon,  barometer  29.29,  wind 
blowing  hurricane  from  the  north. 

At  i  P.M.  the  barometer  fell  to  29.19,  the  lowest  reading,  the  hurricane  continuing 
with  the  same  force  until  about  midnight,  the  barometer  rising  slowly,  reaching  29.52 
at  that  hour ;  wind  north-northwest. 

From  4  to  8  P.M.,  dragging  slowly  at  times,  set  storm,  mizzen,  and  mizzen-stay  sail, 
with  sheets  amidships  to  prevent  any  sheering  of  the  ship.  About  3  P.M.  parted  port 
sheet  chain,  and  shortly  after  starboard  bower  veered  to  ninety  fathoms  on  remaining 
anchor. 

Shortly  after  8  P.M.  dropped  alongside  the  Vandalia,  took  off  her  crew  from  the  tops 
and  rigging,  and  made  fast  to  her.  Pounding  terribly  all  night,  but  the  wreck  of  the 
Vandalia  kept  us  off  the  reef.  Notwithstanding  every  effort,  could  not  keep  the  water 
down  in  the  holds.  About  midnight  the  wind  had  somewhat  abated.  At  daylight,  the 
morning  of  the  1 7th,  a  line  was  sent  to  us  from  the  shore. 

As  much  of  the  provisions  as  could  be  handled  were  gotten  on  the  spar-deck.  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  I7th,  the  water  still  gaining,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  land  the 
officers  and  crew. 

Permit  me  to  express  my  most  heart-felt  thanks  to  you  for  your  most  valuable  counsel 
and  for  keeping  us  in  good  cheer,  particularly  when  in  our  greatest  danger,  by  your 
good  example. 

During  these  trying  days  the  officers  sustained  the  reputation  that  our  Navy  is  proud 
of.  The  crew  generally  worked  well. 

Lieutenant  R.  M.  G.  Brown,  the  navigator,  was  by  my  side  the  whole  time,  and  to 
his  excellent  judgment,  one  time  at  least,  the  ship  was  cleared  of  a  reef.  Had  we 
struck  it  I  fear  few  of  the  four  hundred  and  fifty  people  on  board  of  the  Trenton  would 
be  alive  to-day. 


240  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Several  officers  and  men  were  injured,  but  only  one  man  killed, — J.  Hewlett,  lands 
man,  whose  skull  was  broken  by  the  sea. 

Very  respectfully,  N.  H.  FARQUHAR, 

Captain  U.  S.  Navy,  Commanding  U.  S.  Flag-Ship  Trenton. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  L.  A.  KIMBERLY,  U.S.Nt, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  Pacific  Station. 

REPORT   OF   LIEUTENANT   J.   W.    CARLIN,   EXECUTIVE   OFFICER   OF 

THE   VANDALIA. 

APIA,  SAMOA,  March  21,  1889. 

SIR, — On  the  1 5th  and  i6th  of  March  a  violent  gale  swept  over  Apia,  wrecking  and 
beaching  every  craft  in  the  harbor  except  H.  B.  M.  ship  Calliope,  a  powerful  steamer, 
which  saved  herself  by  going  to  sea. 

The  gale  was  long  foretold,  and  the  Vandalia  was  prepared  for  heavy  weather,  having 
sent  down  lower  yards,  housed  topmasts,  and  got  up  steam  in  obedience  to  signals  from 
the  flag-ship.  We  were  moored  with  our  anchors  northeast  by  east,  and  southwest  by 
west,  forty-five  fathoms  on  each  chain,  starboard  anchor  well  over  to  the  eastern  reef. 
The  shifts  of  wind  previous  to  the  final  blow  put  an  elbow  in  the  hawse. 

When  the  strength  of  the  gale  came  upon  us  we  were  directly  in  the  hawse  of  the 
Calliope,  rendering  it  injudicious  to  veer. 

All  the  vessels  iri  the  harbor  were  to  leeward  of  us  except  the  Trenton.  About  mid 
night  of  the  1 5th  we  began  to  drag,  and  commenced  to  steam  up  to  our  anchors,  and 
continued  to  steam,  with  but  few  intermissions,  until  we  struck,  the  speed  varying  from 
eighteen  to  forty-two  revolutions.  The  engines  worked  well,  with  the  exception  of  a 
short  time  when  the  steam  ran  down  to  twenty-five  pounds,  caused  by  an  accident  to 
one  of  the  boilers.  We  had  on  seven  boilers  of  the  eight,  and  they  furnished  all  the 
steam  the  engines  could  use. 

We  had  but  one  sheet-anchor,  and  the  stock  of  that  was  broken  in  the  last  gale. 
This  anchor  was  held  in  reserve  as  long  as  possible,  in  expectation  of  the  wind  coming 
out  from  the  northward  and  westward,  but  was  let  go  about  2  AM.  of  the  i6th,  as  near 
the  weather  reef  as  possible. 

At  daylight  we  saw  that  the  vessels  in  the  inner  harbor  were  in  trouble.  The  Eber 
soon  disappeared  entirely,  and  the  Adler  struck  the  reef,  the  seas  heaving  her  on  top  of 
it  and  capsizing  her.  The  Calliope  was  our  nearest  neighbor,  and  from  daylight  until 
9  A.M.  we  were  in  imminent  danger  of  getting  foul  of  each  other,  and  also  of  striking 
the  reef,  being  frequently  within  fifty  feet  of  it,  and  sometimes  within  twenty  feet.  The 
current  was  so  strong  that  spanker,  helm,  and  two  anchors  on  weather  bow  were  not 
sufficient  to  bring  the  ship's  head  to  wind.  The  seas  were  of  immense  force,  and  the 
steering-gear  was  carried  away  about  8  A.M.  The  ship  was  steered  thereafter  by  the 
relieving  tackles. 

The  Calliope  put  to  sea  about  9  A.M.,  and  one  obstacle  was  removed  from  our  path. 
Feeling  that  we  must  go  on  the  reef  if  we  remained  where  we  were,  we  made  every 
exertion  to  get  into  the  inner  harbor,  hoping  to  escape  the  extraordinary  current  we  had 
heretofore  encountered.  In  doing  so,  we  passed  between  the  Olga  and  the  lee  reef 
with  but  a  few  feet  to  spare  on  either  hand. 

We  slipped  the  sheet-chain  to  avoid  fouling  the  Olga's  ground-tackle,  and  veered  on 
both  bowers  to  clear  the  ship  herself.  After  passing  the  Olga  we  made  strenuous  ex 
ertions  to  bring  her  head  to  the  wind,  but  they  were  of  no  avail,  and  the  stern  took  the 
inner  point  of  the  reef  at  10.45  A-M<  The  engines  were  kept  going  until  we  were  con 
vinced  that  the  ship  was  hard  and  fast.  They  were  then  stopped,  safety-valves  opened, 
and  the  firemen  called  on  deck.  The  ship's  head  swung  slowly  to  starboard,  she  began 
to  fill  and  settle,  and  the  rail  was  soon  awash,  the  seas  sweeping  over  her  at  a  height  of 


History  of  tlie  United  States  Marine  Corps.  241 

fifteen  feet  above  the  rail.     We  were  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  shore,  but  the 
current  was  so  strong  and  the  seas  so  high  that  swimming  was  a  reckless  undertaking. 

We  found  the  Nipsic  beached  and  abandoned  just  inside  of  us.  A  line  was  got  on 
board  her,  but  more  were  drowned  than  saved.  It  was  impossible  to  get  a  line  to  shore. 
There  is  no  apparatus  for  throwing  a  line,  and  our  buoys  floated  to  seaward.  E.  M. 
Ham  mar,  seaman,  attempted  to  carry  a  line,  but  was  swept  back  against  the  ship  and 
killed.  Many  men  attempted  to  swim,  but  so  many  were  drowned  that  the  remainder 
were  deterred. 

The  commanding  officer  was  washed  overboard  from  the  poop  about  half  an  hour 
after  striking;  his  strength  had  been  exhausted  by  constant  work  for  so  long  a  time,  and 
he  was  unable  to  sustain  the  shock  of  the  heavy  seas.  He  was  surrounded  by  officers 
and  men  and  had  been  rescued  several  times,  when  a  sea  of  unusual  violence  swept  him, 
and  all  in  his  immediate  vicinity,  overboard.  The  crew  then  deserted  the  poop  and 
forecastle,  and  took  refuge  in  the  tops  and  rigging,  where  they  remained  until  about  8 
P.M.,  eight  hours.  The  Olga  was  driven  on  shore  about  5  P.M. 

About  dark  the  Trenton  dragged  down  on  us,  and  we  expected  her  to  carry  away  our 
masts  and  throw  us  into  the  sea,  but  she  came  down  so  gently,  and  was  so  expert  in 
throwing  us  lines,  that  nearly  all  our  men  escaped  from  their  perilous  position  in  the 
rigging  to  the  comparative  safety  of  the  Trenton's  decks.  The  mizzenmast  and  the 
mainmast  soon  went  by  the  board.  In  the  morning  the  seas  had  gone  down  considerably 
and  the  crew  was  sent  on  shore  in  boats. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  lost :  C.  M.  Schoonmaker,  captain  ;  Frank  H.  Arms, 
paymaster;  F.  E.  Sutton,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  first  lieutenant;  John  Roche,  pay- 
clerk  ;  George  Murrage,  boatswain's  mate ;  E.  M.  Hammar,  seaman ;  George  Gorman, 
carpenter;  M.  Craigin,  captain  after-guard;  William  Brown,  first  quartermaster;  T.  G. 
Downey,  paymaster's  yeoman ;  B.  F.  Davis,  engineer's  yeoman ;  Thomas  Riley,  lands 
man  ;  John  Kelly,  ordinary  seaman ;  Henry  Baker,  landsman ;  John  Hanchett,  sergeant ; 
Frank  Lissman,  sergeant;  Michael  Cashen,  corporal ;  Nicholas  Kinsella,  corporal;  H. 
C.  Gehring,  private  marine;  Adolph  Goldner,  private  marine,'  Frank  Jones,  private 
marine  ;  N.  B.  Green,  bayman  ;  H.  P.  Stalman,  bayman  ;  C.  H.  Hawkins,  steerage  stew 
ard  ;  G.  H.  Wells,  private  marine ;  C.  E.  G.  Stanford,  landsman ;  W.  Bransbane,  cabin 
steward ;  Joseph  Griffin,  first-class  fireman ;  M.  Erickson,  ordinary  seaman ;  Thomas 
Kelley,  second-class  fireman  ;  W.  Howat,  coal-heaver;  C.  P.  Kratzer,  ordinary  seaman  ; 
M.  H .  Joseph,  equipment  yeoman  ;  George  Jordan,  private  marine  ;  John  Willford,  private 
seaman;  Henry  Wixted,  private  marine;  Aylmer  Montgomerie,  private  marine;  John 
Sims,  private  marine ;  Charles  Kraus,  private  marine ;  Ah  Keau,  cabin  cook  ;  Ah  Pack, 
seamen's  cook ;  Ten  Dang,  landsman ;  Yee  Hor,  wardroom  cook. 

The  Vandalia  is  a  total  loss.  Her  rail  is  awash,  and  she  is  filling  with  sand.  There 
is  nothing  standing  except  the  foremast.  The  safe  has  been  brought  on  shore,  but  aside 
from  that  the  articles  recovered  will  be  insignificant.  The  crew  is  at  work  doing  every 
thing  possible  in  the  way  of  wrecking. 

All  records  having  been  lost,  this  report  is  devoid  of  data  concerning  wind,  weather, 
barometer,  etc. 

The  loss  of  the  Vandalia  was  due  to  the  extreme  violence  of  the  gale,  the  great 
height  of  the  seas,  the  extraordinary  strength  of  the  current,  poor  holding  ground,  and 
the  unprotected  condition  of  a  small  harbor  fringed  with  coral  reefs,  and  crowded  with 
vessels.  Very  respectfully,  J.  W.  CARLIN, 

Lieutenant  U.  S.  Navy, 
Executive  Officer  U.  S.  S.  Vandalia,  Commanding  Survivors. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  L.  A.  KIMBERLY,  U.  S.  NAVY, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Naval  Force  on  Pacific  Station. 


242  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

In  a  supplementary  report  Lieutenant  Carlin  commends  Sergeant  John 
Coleman  and  Private  Carroll  of  the  Marines  for  gallant  conduct. 

These  men  and  several  others  of  the  detachment  volunteered  for  duty 
in  the  fire-room,  and  remained  in  the  coal-bunkers,  "  where  danger  appalled 
the  stoutest  heart '."  Sergeant  Coleman  had  previously  received  a  medal 
for  "  personal  valor"  at  Corea,  under  Captain  Tilton. 

By  reference  to  the  list  of  the  lost  it  will  be  observed  that  one-half  of 
the  Marines  of  the  Vandalia  were  drowned,  including  their  promising 
young  officer,  Lieutenant  Sutton,  one  of  the  star  members  in  his  class  at 
the  Naval  Academy. 

The  survivors  of  the  two  vessels  were  comfortably  quartered  on  shore. 
The  Marines,  with  their  marvellous  adaptability  for  service  of  any  nature, 
were  immediately  placed  in  charge  of  the  town,  under  the  command  of 
the  senior  officer  of  Marines,  Captain  R.  W.  Huntington,  assisted  by 
First  Lieutenant  T.  G.  Fillette. 

It  is  on  record  that  Captain  Huntington,  Lieutenant  Fillette,  and  the 
Marines  under  their  command  were  commended  for  the  faithful  per 
formance  of  their  duty  under  very  trying  circumstances. 

Without  the  steady  and  reliable  discipline  maintained  by  the  Marines, 
trouble  would  have  ensued,  and  it  was  to  this  small  detachment  of  faith 
ful'  soldiers  that  the  naval  authorities  were  indebted  for  the  maintenance 
of  law  and  order. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  the  disaster  is  condensed  from 
the  sketch  of  John  P.  Dunning,  Esq.,  correspondent  at  Samoa  for  the 
Associated  Press,  and  published  in  the  St.  Nicholas  for  February,  1890. 

"  The  harbor  in  which  the  disaster  occurred  is  a  small  semicircular 
bay,  around  the  inner  side  of  which  lies  the  town  of  Apia.  A  coral  reef, 
which  is  visible  at  low  water,  extends  in  front  of  the  harbor  from  the 
eastern  to  the  western  extremity,  a  distance  of  nearly  two  miles.  A  break 
in  this  reef,  probably  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  forms  a  gate-way  to  the 
harbor.  The  space  within  the  bay  where  ships  can  lie  at  anchor  is  very 
small,  as  a  shoal  extends  some  distance  out  from  the  eastern  shore,  and 
on  the  other  side  another  coral  reef  runs  well  out  into  the  bay. 

"  The  American  consulate  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  the  line  of 
houses  composing  the  town,  and  directly  in  front  of  it  is  a  long  strip  of 
sandy  beach.  The  war-vessels  were  anchored  in  the  deep  water  in  front 
of  the  American  consulate.  The  Eber  and  Nipsic  were  nearest  the  shore. 
There  were  ten  or  twelve  sailing  vessels,  principally  small  schooners, 
lying  in  the  shallow  water  west  of  the  men-of-war. 

"The  storm  was  preceded  by  several  weeks  of  bad  weather,  and  on 
Friday,  March  15,  the  wind  increaseo)  and  there  was  every  indication  of 
a  hard  blow.  The  war-ships  made  preparation  for  it  by  lowering  top 
masts  and  making  all  the  spars  secure,  and  steam  was  also  raised  to  guard 
against  the  possibility  of  the  anchors  not  holding. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  243 

"  By  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  the  wind  had  increased  to  a  gale.  The 
crews  on  most  of  the  sailing  vessels  put  out  extra  anchors  and  went 
ashore.  Rain  began  to  fall  at  midnight,  and  the  wind  increased  in  fury. 
Great  waves  were  rolling  in  from  the  open  ocean,  and  the  pitching  of 
the  vessels  was  fearful.  The  Eber  commenced  to  drag  her  anchors  at 
midnight,  and  an  hour  later  the  Vandalia  was  also  dragging.  However, 
by  using  steam  they  succeeded  in  keeping  well  off  the  reef  and  away 
from  the  other  vessels.  The  wind  blew  more  and  more  strongly,  and 
rain  fell  in  torrents.  By  three  o'clock  the  situation  had  become  alarm 
ing.  Nearly  every  vessel  in  the  harbor  was  dragging,  and  there  was 
imminent  danger  of  collisions.  There  was  no  thought  of  sleep  on  any 
of  the  ships,  for  every  man  was  needed  at  his  post. 

"  On  shore,  the  howling  of  the  wind  among  the  trees  and  houses,  and 
the  crash  of  .falling  roofs,  had  aroused  many  persons  from  their  beds,  and 
figures  were  soon  seen  groping  about  the  street  looking  for  some  spot 
sheltered  from  the  tempest.  The  tide  was  coming  in  rapidly,  and  the 
surf  was  breaking  all  over  the  street,  a  hundred  feet  above  the  usual  high- 
water  mark.  The  spray  was  thrown  high  in  the  air  and  beat  into  the 
windows  of  houses  nearest  the  shore.  Rain  fell  like  sleet,  and  men  and 
women  who  were  wandering  about  in  the  storm  shielded  their  faces  with 
small  pieces  of  board  or  with  any  other  article  that  could  be  used  as  a 
protection  against  the  wind  and  sand. 

"  I  had  spent  the  evening  in-doors  and  had  retired  about  eleven  o'clock. 
The  house  which  I  occupied  was  some  distance  from  the  shore  and  was 
surrounded  by  a  thick  growth  of  trees.  Several  of  these  had  fallen  with  a 
crashing  sound,  and  I  found  it  impossible  to  sleep.  I  arose  and  deter 
mined  to  go  down  to  the  beach,  for  I  felt  that  the  vessels  in  the  harbor 
must  be  in  great  danger.  I  reached  the  street  with  the  greatest  difficulty, 
for  I  had  two  treacherous  little  foot-bridges  to  cross,  and  the  night  was 
so  dark  and  the  force  of  the  wind  so  great  that  I  felt  I  was  wandering 
about  like  a  blind  man.  When  I  had  walked  down  to  the  beach,  I 
looked  across  the  angry  waters  at  the  lights  of  the  vessels  and  realized 
far  more  clearly  than  before  that  the  storm  was  something  terrible.  I 
wandered  along  the  beach  for  a  distance  of  half  a  mile,  thinking  it  pos 
sible  that  I  might  find  some  one,  but  the  whole  place  seemed  to  be  de 
serted.  The  only  light  visible  on  shore  was  at  the  American  consulate. 
I  found  a  solitary  Marine  on  duty  as  a  sentry  there.  I  exchanged  a  few 
words  with  him  and  then  retired  to  a  temporary  shelter  for  several  hours, 
until  a  number  of  natives  and  a  few  white  persons  commenced  to  collect 
on  the  street.  The  natives  seemed  to  know  better  than  the  rest  that  the 
storm  would  result  in  awful  destruction.  People  soon  gathered  in  little 
groups  and  peered  out  into  the  darkness  across  the  sea  of  foaming  waters. 
Fear  was  depicted  upon  every  face.  Men  stood  close  together  and 
shouted  to  make  themselves  heard  above  the  roar  of  the  tempest. 

16 


244  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"Through  the  blackness  of  the  night  could  be  seen  the  lights  of  the 
men-of-war,  and  even  above  the  rushing  and  roaring  of  the  wind  and 
waves,  the  shouting  of  the  officers  and  men  on  board  came  faintly  across 
the  water.  It  could  be  seen  that  the  vessels  were  dragging,  as  the  lights 
were  moving  slowly  in  different  directions  and  apparently  crossing  and 
recrossing  each  other.  Every  moment  it  seemed  as  if  two  or  more  of 
the  great  war-ships  were  about  to  come  together,  and  the  watchers  on  the 
beach  waited  in  breathless  anxiety  to  hear  the  crash  of  collision. 

"A  little  after  five  o'clock,  the  first  faint  rays  of  dawn  broke  upon  the 
scene  and  revealed  a  spectacle  not  often  witnessed.  The  position  of  the 
vessels  was  entirely  changed.  They  had  been  swept  from  their  former 
moorings  and  were  all  bearing  down  in  the  direction  of  the  inner  reef. 
Black  smoke  was  pouring  from  their  funnels,  showing  that  desperate 
efforts  were  being  made  to  keep  them  up  against  the  storm.  The  decks 
swarmed  with  men  clinging  to  masts  or  to  anything  affording  a  hold. 
The  hulls  of  the  ships  were  tossing  about  like  corks,  and  the  decks  were 
being  deluged  with  water  as  every  wave  swept  in  from  the  open  ocean. 
Several  sailing  vessels  had  gone  ashore  in  the  western  part  of  the  bay. 
The  Trenton  and  Vandalia,  being  farther  out  from  the  shore  than  the 
other  ships,  were  almost  obscured  by  the  blinding  mist.  The  vessels 
most  plainly  visible  were  the  Eber,  Adler,  and  Nipsic.  They  were  very 
close  together  and  only  a  few  yards  from  the  reef. 

4 'The  little  gunboat  Eber  was  making  a  desperate  struggle,  but  every 
moment  she  was  being  driven  nearer  and  nearer  the  reef.  Her  doom  was 
certain.  Suddenly  she  shot  forward  as  if  making  a  last  effort  to  escape  de 
struction.  The  current,  however,  bore  her  off  to  the  right,  and  her  bow 
struck  the  port  quarter  of  the  Nipsic,  carrying  away  several  feet  of  the  Nip- 
sic' s  rail  and  one  boat.  The  Eber  then  fell  back  and  fouled  with  the  Olga, 
and  after  that  she  seemed  unable  to  make  any  effort  to  save  herself.  Awful 
seas  broke  over  the  little  vessel  as  she  swung  around  broadside  to  the 
wind.  Presently  she  was  lifted  high  on  the  crest  of  a  great  wave  and 
hurled  with  awful  force  upon  the  reef.  In  an  instant  there  was  not  a 
vestige  of  her  to  be  seen.  She  struck  fairly  upon  her  bottom,  rolled  ovej 
towards  the  sea,  and  disappeared  from  view.  Every  timber  must  have 
been  shattered,  and  half  the  poor  creatures  aboard  of  her  crushed  to  death 
before  they  felt  the  waters  closing  above  their  heads.  Hundreds  of  people 
were  on  the  beach  by  this  time,  and  the  work  of  destruction  had  occurred 
within  full  view  of  them  all.  They  stood  for  a  moment  appalled  by  the 
awful  scene,  and  a  cry  of  horror  arose  from  the  lips  of  every  man  who 
had  seen  nearly  a  hundred  of  his  fellow-creatures  perish  in  an  instant. 
Then  with  one  accord  they  all  rushed  to  the  water's  edge  nearest  the 
point  where  the  Eber  had  foundered.  The  natives  ran  into  the  surf  far 
beyond  the  point  where  a  white  man  could  have  lived,  and  stood  waiting 
to  save  any  one  who  might  rise  from  the  water.  There  was  no  thought  of 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  245 

the  war  between  Germany  and  Samoa  ;  there  was  no  sign  of  enmity  against 
the  people  who  had  banished  their  king  and  carried  him  off  to  a  lonely 
isle  thousands  of  miles  from  his  native  land  ;  the  savage  forgot  the 
oppression  which  a  civilized  people  had  placed  upon  him,  and  now  held 
out  his  hand  to  save  a  human  life,  caring  little  whether  it  was  that  of 
friend  or  foe. 

"At  first  it  seemed  as  if  every  man  on  the  ill-fated  steamer  had  gone 
to  his  death.  Not  even  a  hand  appeared  from  the  depths  where  the  Eber 
sank.  But  the  breakers  on  the  reef  had  hidden  a  few  struggling  men  who 
had  come  to  the  surface  and  struck  out  feebly  for  shore. 

"  Presently  a  man  was  seen  clinging  to  the  piling  of  a  small  wharf  near 
by.  Willing  hands  soon  grasped  him  and  drew  him  up  on  shore.  He 
was  a  young  man  with  a  handsome,  boyish  face,  and  wore  the  uniform  of 
an  officer.  He  proved  to  be  Lieutenant  Gaedeke,  and  was  the  only 
officer  of  the  Eber  who  was  saved.  Lieutenant  T.  G.  Fillette,  the  marine- 
officer  of  the  Nipsic,  who  for  several  months  had  been  stationed  on  shore 
in  charge  of  the  guard  of  Marines  at  the  American  consulate,  took  the 
German  officer  under  his  care. 

"Four  sailors  from  the  Eber  were  found  struggling  in  the  water  near 
shore  about  the  same  time.  They  were  quickly  rescued  by  the  natives 
and  also  taken  to  the  American  consulate.  There  were  six  officers  and 
seventy  men  on  the  Eber  when  she  struck  the  reef,  and  of  these,  five 
officers  and  sixty-six  men  were  lost. 

"Lieutenant  Gsedeke,  the  survivor,  was  almost  heart-broken  over  the 
sad  fate  of  his  fellow-officers  and  men.  He  was  the  officer  of  the  watch 
and  was  on  the  bridge  when  the  Eber  went  down.  He  said  that  all  the 
other  officers  were  below,  and  he  supposed  they  were  crushed  to  death. 
It  was  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the  Eber  foundered. 

"During  the  excitement  attending  that  calamity  the  other  vessels  had 
been  for  the  time  forgotten ;  but  we  soon  noticed  that  the  positions  of 
several  of  them  had  become  more  alarming.  The  Adler  had  been  swept 
across  the  bay,  being  for  a  moment  in  collision  with  the  Olga. 

"  She  was  now  close  to  the  reef,  about  two  hundred  yards  west  of  the 
point  where  the  Eber  struck,  and,  broadside  on,  like  the  Eber,  she  was 
approaching  her  doom. 

"In  half  an  hour  she  was  lifted  on  top  of  the  reef  and  turned  com 
pletely  over  on  her  side.  Nearly  every  man  was  thrown  into  the  water. 
They  had  but  a  few  feet  to  swim,  however,  to  reach  the  deck,  as  almost 
the  entire  hull  was  out  of  water.  Only  twenty  men  were  drowned  when 
the  steamer  capsized. 

"  The  others  clung  to  the  guns  and  masts  in  safety,  and  as  the  bottom 
of  the  vessel  was  towards  the  storm,  the  men  on  the  deck  were  well  pro 
tected.  Natives  stretched  a  rope  from  the  shore  to  the  Adler  during  the 
day,  and  a  number  of  sailors  escaped  by  that  means.  But  the  rope 


246  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

parted  before  all  had  left  the  vessel,  and  the  others  were  not  taken  off  until 
next  day.  They  clung  to  the  wreck  during  the  long  weary  hours  of  the 
day  and  night,  and  were  greatly  exhausted  when  they  finally  reached  the 
shore. 

"Just  after  the  Adler  struck,  the  attention  of  every  one  was  directed 
towards  the  Nipsic.  She  was  standing  off  the  reef  with  her  head  to  the 
wind,  but  the  three  anchors  which  she  had  out  at  the  time  were  not 
holding,  and  the  steamer  was  being  beaten  back  towards  the  point  where 
the  Eber  went  down.  It  was  only  by  the  most  skilful  management  that 
her  officers  and  crew  were  saved  from  the  same  fate  that  befell  the  Eber. 
The  Nipsic  also  narrowly  escaped  destruction  by  being  run  into  by  the 
Olga,  and  it  was  the  blow  she  received  from  that  vessel  which  finally  sent 
her  ashore.  As  she  was  trying  to  avoid  a  collision  with  the  Olga,  the 
little  schooner  Lily  got  in  her  track  and  was  cut  down.  There  were 
three  men  on  the  Lily,  two  of  whom  were  drowned,  but  the  third  swam 
to  the  Olga  and  reached  her  deck  in  safety. 

"  As  the  Nipsic's  anchors  were  not  holding,  orders  were  given  to  attach 
a  hawser  to  a  heavy  8-inch  rifle  on  the  forecastle  and  throw  the  gun 
overboard.  As  the  men  were  in  the  act  of  doing  this,  the  Olga  bore 
down  on  the  Nipsic  and  struck  her  amidships  with  awful  force.  Her 
bowsprit  passed  over  the  side  of  the  Nipsic  and,  after  carrying  away  one 
boat  and  splintering  the  rail,  came  in  contact  with  the  smokestack,  which 
was  struck  fairly  in  the  centre  and  fell  to  the  deck  with  a  crash  like  thun 
der.  For  a  moment  it  was  difficult  to  realize  what  had  happened,  and 
great  confusion  followed.  The  crew  believed  the  ship  was  going  down, 
and  men  ran  up  in  the  rigging  for  safety.  The  iron  smokestack  rolled 
from  side  to  side  with  every  movement  of  the  vessel  until  finally  heavy 
blocks  were  placed  under  it.  By  that  time  the  Nipsic  had  swung  around 
and  was  approaching  the  reef.  It  was  an  anxious  moment  for  all  on 
board.  They  had  seen  the  Eber  strike  a  few  yards  from  where  they  now 
were,  and  it  seemed  certain  that  they  would  go  down  in  the  same  way. 
Having  lost  her  smokestack,  the  vessel  was  unable  to  keep  up  her  steam 
power.  Captain  Mullan  was  upon  the  bridge  at  the  time,  with  Ensign 
H.  P.  Jones,  the  latter  being  the  officer  of  the  watch.  The  captain 
remained  cool  and  collected  during  the  dangerous  moment.  He  saw 
that  in  another  moment  the  Nipsic  would  be  on  the  reef,  and  probably 
every  man  on  board  be  lost.  Any  further  attempt  to  save  the  vessel 
would  be  useless,  so  he  gave  the  orders  to  beach  her.  The  limited 
amount  of  steam  which  could  still  he  carried  was  brought  into  use  and 
her  head  was  put  around  towards  the  shore.  She  had  a  straight  course 
of  about  two  hundred  yards  to  the  sandy  beach  in  front  of  the  American 
consulate. 

"There  were  then  several  hundred  natives  and  about  fifty  white  per 
sons,  principally  Americans  and  Englishmen,  standing  near  the  water's 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  247 

edge  watching  the  critical  manoeuvres  of  the  Nipsic,  and  I  remember  the 
feeling  of  dread  which  came  over  me  as  I  saw  the  vessel  running  along 
side  the  dangerous  reef,  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  dashed  to  pieces 
upon  it.  As  she  came  nearer  the  shore  I  could  easily  distinguish  the 
faces  of  officers  who  were  my  personal  friends,  and  I  did  not  know  but 
that  I  might  be  looking  upon  them  for  the  last  time.  Near  me  were 
standing  United  States  Vice-Consul  Blacklock,  and  Ensign  J.  L.  Purcell, 
an  officer  of  the  Nipsic,  who  had  been  on  shore  during  the  night.  I 
could  judge  from  their  faces  that  their  fears  were  the  same  as  mine.  But 
the  Nipsic  escaped  the  reef  and  her  bow  stuck  fast  in  the  sand  about 
twenty  yards  from  the  water's  edge.  She  then  swung  around,  forming 
an  acute  angle  with  the  line  of  the  shore. 

"  Just  as  the  vessel  struck,  five  sailors  jumped  into  a  boat  and  com 
menced  to  lower  it,  but  the  falls  did  not  work  properly  and  one  end  of 
the  boat  dropped,  throwing  the  men  into  the  water,  and  drowning  all  of 
them.  Another  boat,  containing  Dr.  E.  Z.  Derr,  the  ship's  surgeon, 
and  a  half-dozen  sick  men,  was  lowered  in  safety,  but  it  capsized  before 
it  reached  shore. 

"The  men  were  within  a  few  feet,  however,  of  the  natives  who  were 
standing  waist-deep  in  the  surf,  and  they  were  pulled  up  on  the  beach 
and  taken  to  the  consulate.  Several  men  on  the  Nipsic  ran  to  the  rail 
and  jumped  overboard.  All  these  reached  the  shore  except  two  sailors, 
who  were  unable  to  swim  through  the  current  and  were  swept  out  into 
the  bay  and  drowned. 

"By  this  time  every  man  aboard  had  crowded  to  the  forecastle.  A 
line  was  thrown  to  the  natives,  and  double  hawsers  were  soon  made  fast 
from  the  vessel  to  the  shore,  and  the  natives  and  others  gathered  around 
the  line  to  assist  the  men  off.  Seumanu  Tafa,  chief  of  Apia  district,  and 
Salu  Anae,  another  chief,  directed  the  natives  in  their  work.  The  scene 
was  one  of  intense  excitement.  The  seas  broke  upon  the  stern  of  the 
Nipsic  with  awful  force,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  vessel  would  be  battered 
to  pieces  before  the  men  on  her  decks  could  be  saved.  The  waves  were 
rolling  high  on  the  beach,  and  the  undertow  was  so  strong  that  the  natives 
narrowly  escaped  being  washed  out  into  the  bay.  The  rain  continued  to 
pour,  and  the  clouds  of  flying  sand  grew  thicker  every  moment.  The 
voices  of  officers  shouting  to  the  men  on  deck  were  mingled  with  the 
loud  cries  and  singing  of  the  Samoans  as  they  stood  battling  against  the 
surf,  risking  their  lives  to  save  the  American  sailors. 

"  To  one  who  saw  the  noble  work  of  these  men  during  the  storm  it  is 
a  cause  of  wonder  that  they  should  be  called  savages  by  more  enlightened 
races.  There  seemed  to  be  no  instinct  of  the  savage  in  a  man  who  could 
rush  into  that  boiling  torrent  of  water  that  broke  upon  the  reef  and  place 
his  own  life  in  peril  to  save  the  helpless  drowning  men  of  a  foreign 
country. 


248  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"While  Americans  and  Germans  were  treated  alike,  it  was  plain  that 
their  sympathies  were  with  the  Americans,  and  they  redoubled  their 
efforts  when  they  saw  an  opportunity  to  aid  the  men  who  represented  a 
country  which  had  insisted  that  their  native  government  should  not  be 
interfered  with  by  a  foreign  power.  During  the  trying  hours  of  that  day 
they  never  faltered  in  their  heroic  efforts  when  it  was  possible  to  save  a 
life. 

"As  the  Nipsic  lay  helpless  on  the  beach,  they  gathered  about  the 
vessel  and  showed  a  determination  to  risk  everything  to  save  the  officers 
and  men  aboard.  Nearly  all  the  American  and  English  residents  of  Apia 
were  on  the  shore  in  front  of  the  consulate,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a 
willingness  on  the  part  of  every  man  to  render  whatever  assistance  was  in 
his  power.  Ensign  Purcell  of  the  Nipsic  and  several  other  Americans 
were  up  to  their  waists  in  the  water  ready  to  lend  a  hand  to  the  men  as 
they  left  the  ship.  The  position  was  a  most  dangerous  one,  as  the  waves 
were  washing  far  up  on  the  beach  and  great  pieces  of  floating  wreckage 
were  being  swept  back  and  forth.  The  force  of  the  water  was  so  strong 
that  it  was  necessary  to  hold  on  firmly  to  the  life-line  which  was  stretched 
from  the  Nipsic's  bow,  and  I  remember  once  that  my  grasp  upon  the 
line  was  broken  by  an  immense  wave  which  completely  enveloped  me.  I 
was  thrown  violently  across  the  rope,  and  then  as  the  water  receded  I 
was  carried  out  with  it.  Fortunately,  two  natives  caught  me  before  I 
had  gone  too  far,  and  with  their  assistance  I  grasped  the  line  again. 
There  was  no  attempt  to  leave  the  Nipsic  in  disorder.  Captain  Mullan 
and  several  other  officers  stood  by  the  rail  where  the  hawsers  were  made 
fast,  and  directed  the  movements  of  the  men.  They  came  down  the 
ropes  quickly,  but  the  seas  were  rolling  so  high  under  the  bows  of  the 
ship  that  the  men  were  often  entirely  submerged  and  their  hold  upon  the 
lines  broken.  Nothing  but  the  noble  efforts  of  the  natives  saved  them 
from  being  swept  out  into  the  current  and  drowned.  As  soon  as  each 
man  would  come  within  reach,  he  would  be  grasped  in  the  strong  arms 
of  half  a  dozen  Samoans  and  carried  out  of  the  water.  Captain  Mullan 
insisted  upon  being  the  last  man  to  leave  the  ship,  and  he  finally  found 
himself  on  the  deck  with  Lieutenant  John  A.  Shearman  by  his  side. 
The  captain,  being  unable  to  swim,  did  not  care  to  descend  the  rope  by 
means  of  his  hands  and  legs,  as  all  the  others  had  done,  so  he  procured 
an  empty  water-cask  and  attached  it  to  the  hawser.  When  he  was  seated 
in  the  cask,  Lieutenant  Shearman  stood  alone  upon  the  deck  and  started 
his  brave  commander  down  the  line.  The  young  officer  then  climbed 
down  the  rope,  and  the  Nipsic  was  left  alone  to  battle  with  the  waves. 

"  The  Nipsic,  Adler,  and  Eber  were  the  smallest  war-ships  in  the 
harbor.  The  four  large  men-of-war,  the  Trenton,  Calliope,  Vandalia, 
and  Olga,  were  still  afloat  and  well  off  the  reef.  They  remained  in  a 
comparatively  safe  position  for  two  hours  after  the  Nipsic  was  beached, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  249 

but  persons  on  the  shore  were  watching  them  intently  all  the  time. 
About  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  excitement  on  shore  began  to 
grow  more  intense  as  the  Trenton  was  seen  to  be  in  a  helpless  condition. 
The  great  vessel  was  lying  well  out  in  the  bay,  and,  with  every  wave  that 
rolled  in,  her  stern  would  be  lifted  out  of  the  water,  and  it  was  seen  that 
her  rudder  and  propeller  were  both  gone,  and  there  was  nothing  but  her 
anchors  to  hold  her  up  against  the  unabated  force  of  the  storm. 

"  The  Vandalia  and  Calliope  also  were  in  dangerous  positions,  bearing 
back  towards  the  reef  near  the  point  where  lay  the  wreck  of  the  Adler. 
Great  waves  were  tossing  the  two  vessels  about,  and  they  were  coming 
closer  together  every  minute.  The  Vandalia  attempted  to  steam  away, 
but  in  doing  so  a  collision  occurred.  The  iron  prow  of  the  Englishman 
was  lifted  high  in  the  air  and  came  down  with  full  force  upon  the  port 
quarter  of  the  Vandalia.  The  jib-boom  of  the  Calliope  was  carried 
away,  and  the  heavy  timbers  of  the  Vandalia  were  shivered.  Every 
man  who  stood  upon  the  deck  of  the  Vandalia  near  the  point  of  collision 
was  thrown  from  his  feet  by  the  shock. 

"A  hole  was  torn  below  the  rail,  and  water  rushed  into  the  cabin. 
It  was  impossible  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  damage  at  the  moment, 
but  it  seemed  as  if  the  Vandalia  had  received  her  death-blow.  Men 
rushed  up  the  hatches  in  the  belief  that  the  steamer  was  sinking,  but  they 
afterwards  returned  to  their  posts.  Just  after  this  collision,  Captain  Kane 
of  the  Calliope  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  steam  out  of  the  har 
bor,  as  he  saw  that  to  remain  in  his  present  position  would  lead  to 
another  collision  with  the  Vandalia  or  throw  his  vessel  upon  the  reef. 
He  accordingly  gave  orders  to  let  go  all  anchors.  The  Calliope's  head 
swung  around  to  the  wind  and  her  engines  were  worked  to  their  utmost 
power.  The  steamer  seemed  to  stand  still  for  a  moment,  and  then  the 
rapidly  revolving  propeller  had  its  effect,  for  the  vessel  moved  up  slowly 
against  the  great  waves  which  broke  over  her  bows  and  flooded  her  decks 
from  stem  to  stern.  Clouds  of  black  smoke  poured  from  her  funnel  as 
more  coal  was  thrown  into  the  furnaces.  Every  tension  was  strained  in 
her  heroic  struggle  against  the  storm.  She  seemed  to  make  her  headway 
at  first  inch  by  inch,  but  her  speed  gradually  increased  until  it  became 
evident  that  she  could  clear  the  harbor. 

"  This  manoeuvre  of  the  gallant  British  ship  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  daring  in  naval  annals.  It  was  the  one  desperate  chance  offered 
her  commander  to  save  his  vessel  and  the  three  hundred  lives  aboard. 
An  accident  to  the  machinery  at  this  critical  moment  would  have  meant 
certain  death  to  all.  Every  pound  of  steam  which  the  Calliope  could 
possibly  carry  was  crowded  on,  and  down  in  the  fire-rooms  the  men 
worked  as  they  never  had  worked  before.  To  clear  the  harbor,  the  Calliope 
had  to  pass  between  the  Trenton  and  the  reef,  and  it  required  the  most 
skilful  seamanship  to  avoid  a  collision  with  the  Trenton,  on  the  one 


250  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

hand,  or  total  destruction  upon  the  reef,  on  the  other.  The  Trenton's 
fires  had  gone  out  byjhat  time,  and  she  lay  helpless  almost  in  the  path 
of  the  Calliope.  The  doom  of  the  American  flag-ship  seemed  but  a 
question  of  a  few  hours.  Nearly  every  man  aboard  felt  that  his  vessel 
must  soon  be  dashed  to  pieces,  and  that  he  would  find  a  grave  under  the 
coral  reef.  The  decks  of  the  flag-ship  were  swarming  with  men,  but, 
facing  death  as  they  were,  they  recognized  the  heroic  struggle  of  the 
British  ship,  and  as  the  latter  passed  within  a  few  yards  of  them  a  great 
shout  went  up  from  over  four  hundred  men  aboard  the  Trenton. 
'Three  cheers  for  the  Calliope!'  was  the  sound  that  reached  the  ears 
of  the  British  tars  as  they  passed  out  of  the  harbor  in  the  teeth  of  the 
storm ;  and  the  heart  of  every  Englishman  went  out  to  the  brave  Amer 
ican  sailors  who  gave  that  parting  tribute  to  the  Queen's  ship. 

"  A  well-known  London  journal  afterwards  remarked:  '  The  cheer  of 
the  Trenton's  men  was  the  expression  of  an  immortal  courage.  It  was 
distressed  manhood  greeting  triumphant  manhood,  the  doomed  saluting 
the  saved.'  The  English  sailors  returned  the  Trenton's  cheer,  and  the 
Calliope  passed  safely  out  to  sea,  returning  when  the  storm  had  abated. 
Captain  Kane,  her  commander,  in  speaking  of  the  incident  afterwards, 
said,  'Those  ringing  cheers  of  the  American  flag-ship  pierced  deep  into 
my  heart,  and  I  will  ever  remember  that  mighty  outburst  of  fellow-feeling 
which,  I  felt,  came  from  the  bottom  of  the  hearts  of  the  gallant  admiral 
and  his  men.  Every  man  on  board  the  Calliope  felt  as  I  did  ;  it 
made  us  work  to  win.  I  can  only  say,  "  God  bless  America  and  her 
noble  sailors !" 

"When  the  excitement  on  the  Vandalia  which  followed  the  collision 
with  the  Calliope  had  subsided,  it  was  determined  to  beach  the  vessel. 

"  Lieutenant  J.  W.  Carlin,  the  executive  officer,  was  practically  in 
command,  as  Captain  Schoonmaker  had  been  thrown  across  the  cabin 
the  night  before  and  severely  injured.  The  captain  was  in  a  dazed  and 
weakened  condition,  able  to  do  little  towards  directing  the  movements  of 
the  ship ;  but,  notwithstanding  his  injuries,  he  faced  the  storm  like  a 
hero  and  stood  by  the  side  of  his  first  officer  until  the  sea  finally  swept  him 
off  to  his  death.  Of  all  the  officers  who  did  their  duty  nobly  in  the  face 
of  danger,  none  received  more  commendation  than  Lieutenant  Carlin. 

"  Officers  and  men  alike  spoke  of  his  conduct  in  the  highest  terms  of 
praise,  and  said  that  his  cool  and  calm  demeanor  kept  the  men  at  work 
when  panic  was  almost  breaking  out  among  them.  He  had  been  on 
duty  since  the  morning  before,  and  had  not  tasted  food  in  all  that  time. 

"  The  Vandalia  was  obliged  to  move  along  the  edge  of  the  reef,  a  dis 
tance  of  several  hundred  yards,  in  order  to  reach  a  point  in  front  of  the 
American  consulate  where  it  was  thought  safe  to  run  her  aground. 

"  Every  one  on  shore  stood  near  the  consulate  and  watched  the  vessel 
steam  across  the  harbor.  Her  draught  was  greater  than  the  Nipsic's, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  25 1 

and  it  was  known  that  she  would  not  be  able  to  get  very  close  to  the 
shore.  She  came  on  until  her  bow  stuck  in  the  soft  sand,  about  two 
hundred  yards  off  shore  and  probably  eighty  yards  from  the  stern  of  the 
Nipsic. 

"  Her  engines  were  stopped  and  the  men  in  the  engine-room  and  fire- 
room  below  were  ordered  on  deck.  The  ship  swung  around  broadside 
to  the  shore,  and  it  was  thought  at  first  that  her  position  was  compara 
tively  safe,  as  it  was  believed  that  the  storm  would  abate  in  a  few  hours 
and  that  the  two  hundred  and  forty  men  aboard  could  be  rescued  then. 

"  It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  the  Vandalia  struck,  and,  not 
withstanding  her  easy,  position,  it  soon  became  apparent  that  her  officers 
and  crew  were  in  great  danger.  Nearly  all  the  officers  were  on  the 
poop-deck,  but  their  faces  could  not  be  distinguished  from  the  shore  on 
account  of  the  blinding  mist.  The  men  were  scattered  about  on  the 
gun-deck  and  on  the  forecastle,  holding  on  to  the  masts  and  sides  of  the 
ship.  In  half  an  hour  it  was  noticed  that  the  vessel  was  settling  down. 
Lying  as  she  did,  almost  broadside  to  the  wind,  the  seas  broke  over  her 
furiously  and  poured  down  the  hatches. 

"  One  by  one  the  boats  were  torn  from  their  davits  and  swept  away. 
Efforts  were  made  to  fire  lines  ashore,  but  it  was  impossible  to  do  so,  as 
the  ammunition  was  saturated  with  water. 

"  One  brave  sailor,  named  F.  M.  Hammar,  volunteered  to  swim 
through  the  surf  with  a  line,  in  the  hope  that  his  comrades  might  be 
rescued  in  that  way.  It  was  an  undertaking  which  seemed  to  mean 
certain  death,  for  a  boiling  torrent  of  water,  covered  with  floating 
wreckage,  was  rushing  between  the  Vandalia  and  the  shore. 

"Notwithstanding  the  peril  of  such  an  act,  the  man  fastened  a  small 
cord  to  his  body,  stood  by  the  rail  a  moment,  and  then  plunged  into  the 
sea.  He  had  hardly  touched  the  water  when  he  was  thrown  violently 
against  the  side  of  the  ship  and  knocked  into  insensibility. 

"  There  was  no  possibility  of  saving  him,  and  he  drowned  in  sight  of 
all  who  had  witnessed  his  heroic  action. 

"By  noon  the  entire  gun-deck  of  the  Vandalia  was  under  water,  and 
from  that  time  on  the  condition  of  those  aboard  was  the  most  pitiable 
that  can  be  imagined. 

"The  torrents  of  water  that  swept  over  the  ship  knocked  the  men 
from  their  feet  and  threw  them  against  the  sides.  Several  were  badly 
injured.  Most  of  the  men  sought  refuge  in  the  rigging.  A  few  officers 
still  remained  upon  the  poop-deck,  but  a  number  had  gone  aloft.  The 
wind  seemed  to  increase  in  fury,  and  as  the  hull  of  the  steamer  sank 
lower  the  force  of  the  waves  grew  more  violent.  Men  on  shore  were 
willing  to  render  aid,  but  were  powerless. 

"  No  boat  could  have  lived  a  moment  in  the  surf,  and  it  was  impossi 
ble  to  get  a  line  to  the  vessel,  as  there  was  no  firing-apparatus  on  shore. 


252  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"  The  remembrance  of  those  hours  when  the  sea  was  washing  over  the 
Vandalia  has  come  to  me  many  times  since  then,  and  the  scene  is  as 
vivid  as  it  was  when  I  stood  on  the  beach  in  that  blinding  storm  and 
watched  the  awful  spectacle.  I  recalled  then  that  a  few  days  previous 
Captain  Schoonmaker  had  been  ashore  and  had  given  me  an  invitation 
to  go  aboard  the  Vandalia  and  spend  some  time  with  him.  Circum 
stances  had  prevented  me  from  accepting  his  invitation  at  the  time,  but 
I  had  intended  to  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of  passing  a' few  days 
at  least  on  a  man-of-war,  and  in  fact  had  made  arrangements  to  go 
aboard  on  the  day  before  the  hurricane,  but  the  early  stage  of  the  storm 
had  already  set  in  then,  and  the  bay  was  so  rough  that  the  ship  could  not 
be  reached  in  a  small  boat  with  safety,  so  I  had  been  obliged  to  postpone 
my  visit.  I  confess  that,  as  I  watched  the  vessel  that  day  and  saw  the 
waves  sweeping  men  into  the  sea,  I  felt  that  I  had  had  a  fortunate 
escape. 

"  When  the  distressed  condition  of  the  Vandalia  became  apparent, 
three  officers  of  the  Nipsic — Lieutenant  Shearman,  and  Ensigns  Purcell 
and  Jones — made  every  effort  to  rescue  the  men  ;  and  during  the  whole 
day  and  night,  with  the  assistance  of  several  other  Americans  and  the 
natives,  they  labored  incessantly  to  reach  the  doomed  vessel  and  used 
every  means  to  save  the  lives  of  the  men. 

"  A  long  hawser  was  procured,  and  three  natives  were  found  who  were 
willing  to  venture  out  in  the  surf  with  a  cord  and  attempt  to  reach  the 
Vandalia.  The  men  entered  the  water  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the 
spot  where  the  steamer  lay,  and  struck  out  into  the  surf  with  the  cord 
tied  to  their  bodies. 

"Shouts  of  encouragement  went  up  from  the  shore,  and  the  Samoans 
struggled  bravely  to  reach  the  sunken  ship.  But,  expert  swimmers  as 
they  were,  they  were  unable  to  overcome  the  force  of  the  current,  which 
rushed  down  like  a  cataract  between  the  Vandalia  and  the  shore,  and  the 
men  were  thrown  upon  the  beach  without  being  able  to  get  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  the  vessel.  Seumanu  Tafa,  their  chief,  urged  the  men 
to  try  again,  and  several  other  attempts  were  made,  but  without  success. 

"It  was  now  evident  that  many  of  those  on  the  Vandalia  would  not 
be  able  to  withstand  the  force  of  the  waves  much  longer,  and  would  be 
swept  into  the  sea.  Natives  waded  into  the  water,  and  stood  just  on  the 
edge  of  the  current  ready  to  grasp  any  one  who  should  float  near  them. 
The  seas  continued  to  break  over  the  vessel,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
several  men  were  washed  over  the  side.  As  soon  as  they  touched  the 
water  they  swam  for  the  Nipsic,  where  they  grasped  ropes  hanging  over 
the  side  and  attempted  to  draw  themselves  on  deck.  A  number  suc 
ceeded  in  doing  this,  but  others  were  so  weak  that,  after  hanging  to  the 
ropes  a  moment,  their  grasp  was  broken  by  the  awful  seas  which  crashed 
against  the  side  of  the  vessel,  and  they  would  fall  back  into  the  current. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


253 


"  The  first  man  who  came  ashore  was  Chief-Engineer  A.  S.  Greene. 
When  he  was  washed  from  the  deck  of  the  Vandalia,  he  was  fortunately 
able  to  catch  a  piece  of  floating  wreckage. 

"He  soon  drifted  into  the  current,  and  was  swept  down  along  the 
shore.  The  natives  saw  his  head  above  the  water,  and  they  clasped  each 
other's  hands  and  formed  a  long  line  stretching  out  into  the  current. 
As  the  chief  engineer  swept  by,  the  native  farthest  out  grasped  him  by 
the  arm  and  brought  him  to  shore. 

"Just  before  he  was  rescued,  another  man,  who  had  been  washed  from 
the  Vandalia,  was  seen  clinging  to  a  rope  by  the  side  of  the  Nipsic. 
The  waves  had  torn  away  all  his  clothing. 

"  There  were  several  Vandalia  sailors  aboard  the  Nipsic  by  this  time,  and 
he  shouted  to  them  to  draw  him  up,  but  his  voice  was  lost  in  the  roar  of 
the  wind,  and,  after  clinging  to  the  rope  a  while  longer,  he  let  go  and 
grasped  a  piece  of  board  which  was  floating  past  him.  He  also  was 
drawn  into  the  current,  and  commenced  to  sweep  along  the  shore.  He 
was  farther  out  than  Chief-Engineer  Greene  had  been,  but  the  Samoans 
were  making  every  effort  to  reach  him,  and  had  advanced  so  far  into  the 
current  that  they  were  almost  carried  away  themselves.  Just  as  the 
drowning  man  was  within  a  few  feet  of  the  mouth  of  a  small  river,  where 
another  current  would  have  swept  him  far  out  into  the  bay,  the  natives 
caught  him  and  drew  him  ashore.  He  proved  to  be  H.  A.  Wiley,  a 
young  naval  cadet.  He  was  carried  to  the  consulate  insensible,  and  it 
was  only  after  great  exertions  that  he  was  resuscitated. 

"  It  was  not  long  after  Greene  and  Wiley  were  washed  overboard  that 
the  four  officers  who  were  drowned  were  swept  from  the  deck.  Captain 
Schoonmaker  was  clinging  to  the  rail  on  the  poop-deck.  Lieutenant 
Carlin  was  standing  by  him  trying  to  hold  the  captain  on,  as  the  latter 
was  becoming  weaker  every  minute.  Every  one  on  the  deck  saw  that  he 
could  not  stand  against  the  rush  of  water  much  longer.  No  one  knew  it 
better  than  himself,  and  he  several  times  remarked  to  those  about  him 
that  he  would  have  to  go  soon.  Lieutenant  Carlin  tried  to  get  him  up 
in  the  rigging,  but  the  captain  said  he  was  too  weak  to  climb  up,  and 
would  have  to  remain  where  he  was  as  long  as  possible.  He  had  no  life- 
preserver  ;  one  had  been  offered  him  several  times,  but  he  had  refused 
it.  At  last  a  great  wave  submerged  the  poop-deck.  Captain  Schoon 
maker  held  on  to  the  rail  with  all  the  strength  he  had  left,  but  the 
torrent  of  water  wrenched  a  machine-gun  from  its  fastenings,  and  sent  it 
whirling  across  the  deck.  The  captain  was  bending  down  at  the  time, 
and  the  gun  struck  him  on  the  head,  and  either  killed  him  outright  or 
knocked  him  insensible,  for  the  wave  swept  him  from  the  deck.  He 
sank  without  a  struggle,  and  was  seen  no  more. 

"Paymaster  Frank  H.  Arms  and  Pay- Clerk  John  Roche  were  lying 
upon  the  deck  exhausted,  but  clinging  with  all  the  strength  they  possessed 


254  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

to  anything  which  came  within  their  grasp.  They  were  washed  off  to 
gether.  The  paymaster  sank  in  a  moment,  but  Roche  drifted  over  to 
the  stern  of  the  Nipsic,  where  he  grasped  a  rope.  He  was  a  large,  fleshy 
man,  and,  being  greatly  exhausted,  could  not  possibly  draw  himself  up  on 
the  deck.  His  hold  upon  the  rope  was  soon  broken,  but  he  continued 
to  float  under  the  stern  of  the  Nipsic  several  minutes,  wildly  throwing 
out  his  arms  in  a  vain  attempt  to  clutch  something.  He  finally  sank 
under  the  vessel.  Lieutenant  Frank  E.  Sutton,  the  marine-officer,  died 
in  nearly  the  same  way.  Weakened  by  long  exposure  and  the  terrible 
strain  to  which  he  was  subjected,  he  was  unable  to  retain  his  hold  longer, 
and  was  washed  overboard  and  drowned. 

"  During  the  remainder  of  the  afternoon  there  followed  a  succession 
of  awful  scenes  of  death  and  suffering  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  The 
storm  had  not  abated  in  the  least.  The  wind  continued  to  blow  with 
terrible  force  ;  waves  that  seemed  like  mountains  of  water  rolled  in  from 
the  ocean  and  broke  upon  the  reef  and  over  the  ill-fated  Vandalia.  The 
sheets  of  water  which  fell  from  the  clouds,  and  the  sand  which  was  beaten 
up  from  the  shore,  struck  like  hail  against  the  houses.  White  men  who 
stood  out  in  the  storm  were  often  obliged  to  seek  shelter  to  escape  the 
deluge  of  rain  and  sand,  which  cut  the  flesh  like  a  knife,  and  even  the 
natives  would  occasionally  run  for  safety  behind  an  upturned  boat  or  a 
pile  of  wreckage. 

"  The  Vandalia  continued  to  settle,  and  the  few  men  who  had  not 
already  taken  to  the  rigging  stood  on  the  poop-deck  or  on  the  forecastle, 
as  the  vessel  amidships  was  entirely  under  water. 

"  Almost  twenty-four  hours  had  elapsed  since  anyone  aboard  had  tasted 
food,  and  all  were  weak  and  faint  from  hunger  and  exposure.  Men  were 
now  washed  from  the  decks  and  rigging  a  half-dozen  at  a  time,  and  a 
few,  who  felt  that  they  were  growing  too  weak  to  hold  on,  jumped  into 
the  water,  determined  to  make  one  last  effort  to  save  themselves. 

11  Nearly  every  man  who  jumped  or  was  washed  overboard  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  Nipsic,  and  a  number  of  them  climbed  upon  the  deck  by 
the  aid  of  ropes.  Those  who  reached  the  deck  assisted  others  who  were 
struggling  in  the  water,  and  several  lives  were  saved  in  that  way.  But 
many  a  poor  fellow  who  reached  the  Nipsic's  side  was  unable  to  hold  on 
to  a  rope  long  enough  to  be  drawn  up,  and  the  seas  would  wash  him 
away  and  sweep  him  into  the  current.  None  of  them  came  near  enough 
to  the  shore  to  be  reached  by  the  natives,  and  those  who  once  got  into 
the  current  were  carried  out  into  the  bay  and  drowned. 

"  As  I  stood  on  the  beach  that  afternoon,  I  saw  a  dozen  men  go  down 
before  my  eyes.  I  was  with  Lieutenant  Shearman  and  Ensigns  Purcell 
and  Jones,  Nipsic  officers,  and  Consul  Blacklock  nearly  all  the  time. 
We  had  been  dragging  heavy  hawsers  up  and  down  the  beach  all  day,  and 
had  adopted  every  means  in  our  power  to  render  some  assistance  to  the 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  255 

drowning  men.  As  we  watched  them  struggling  in  the  water,  far  beyond 
any  human  aid,  I  remember  how  we  felt,  that  we  must  do  something  to 
reach  them  ;  but  we  were  powerless.  We  had  seen  a  hundred  German 
sailors  go  down  early  in  the  morning,  and  while  we  had  recognized  the 
horror  of  that  calamity  we  were  not  impressed  with  the  same  feeling 
which  came  upon  us  as  we  saw  men  of  our  own  country  suffering  the  same 
fate.  Here  there  was  a  bond  of  sympathy  which  appealed  to  us  as  Amer 
icans,  and  one  who,  in  a  foreign  land,  has  ever  seen  such  death  and 
suffering  befall  his  fellow  countrymen  can  appreciate  the  feeling  with 
which  we  watched  those  scenes  in  Apia  harbor. 

"By  three  o'clock  the  Vandalia  was  resting  her  whole  length  on  the 
bottom,  and  the  only  part  of  her  hull  which  stood  out  of  water  was  the 
after  part  of  the  poop-deck  and  the  forward  part  of  the  forecastle.  Every 
man  was  in  the  rigging.  As  many  as  could  be  accommodated  there  had 
climbed  into  the  tops  and  sunk  down  exhausted  upon  the  small  platforms. 
Others  clung  to.  the  ratlines  and  yards  with  the  desperation  of  dying  men, 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  their  last.  Their  arms  and  limbs  were 
bruised  and  swollen  by  holding  on  to  the  rough  ropes.  A  number  had 
been  greatly  injured  by  falling  about  the  decks,  and  many  a  poor  creature 
was  so  benumbed  with  cold  and  exposure  to  the  biting  rain,  and  so  weak 
from  want  of  food,  that  he  sank  almost  into  insensibility,  and  cared  not 
whether  he  lived  or  died. 

"More  than  one  man  who  was  clinging  to  the  ratlines  gave  way  under 
the  terrible  strain  and  fell  to  the  deck,  only  to  be  washed  over  the  sub 
merged  side  of  the  ship  and  drowned. 

"A  hawser  had  been  made  fast  from  the  deck  of  the  Nipsic  to  the 
shore,  and  the  Vandalia  men  who  had  escaped  to  the  Nipsic  reached 
shore  in  that  way. 

"  The  Nipsic  had  by  that  time  swung  out  straight  from  the  shore,  so 
that  the  distance  between  the  two  vessels  was  not  more  than  fifty  yards. 
A  small  rope  was  made  fast  from  the  foremast  of  the  Vandalia  to  the 
stern  of  the  Nipsic,  and  a  few  men  escaped  by  it,  but  before  all  in  the 
fore-rigging  were  rescued,  the  line  parted,  and  could  not  afterwards  be 
replaced. 

"  The  terrible  scenes  attending  the  wreck  of  the  Vandalia  had  de 
tracted  attention  from  the  other  two  men-of-war  which  still  remained 
afloat;  but  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  positions  of  the 
Trenton  and  Olga  became  most  alarming.  The  flag-ship  had  been  in  a 
helpless  condition  for  hours. 

"At  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  her  rudder  and  propeller  had  been 
carried  away  by  fouling  with  a  piece  of  floating  wreckage;  and,  to 
add  to  her  discomfiture,  great  volumes  of  water  poured  in  through  the 
hawse-pipes  (the  large  openings  in  the  bow  through  which  the  anchor- 
chains  pass).  From  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  six  in  the  evening, 


256  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

when  she  grounded,  the  Trenton  held  out  against  the  storm  without 
steam  or  rudder,  and  her  escape  from  total  destruction  was  miraculous. 
Admiral  Kimberly,  Captain  Farquhar,  and  Lieutenant  Brown,  the  navi 
gating  officer,  stood  upon  the  bridge  the  whole  day  and  directed  the 
movements  of  the  ship.  For  two  hours  before  the  fires  were  extinguished 
the  water  was  rushing  in  through  the  hawse-pipes  and  pouring  down  the 
hatches  into  the  fire-room  and  engine-room.  The  men  at  work  there 
were  in  a  most  perilous  position,  as  they  were  so  far  down  below  the 
deck  that  if  the  vessel  had  gone  upon  the  reefs  suddenly  and  sunk,  they 
never  could  have  escaped.  Engineers  Gait  and  Matthews  were  in  charge 
of  the  engine-room  during  the  time  that  the  water  was  pouring  down  the 
hatches.  All  the  men  there  stood  at  their  posts  until  they  were  waist- 
deep  in  the  water  and  the  fires  were  extinguished.  The  berth-deck  also 
was  flooded,  and  efforts  were  made  to  close  the  hawse-pipes.  Lieutenant 
"VV.  H.  Allen  remained  below  all  day  superintending  this  work,  but, 
though  he  was  partially  successful,  the  force  of  the  water  was  so  great 
that  everything  placed  in  the  pipes  was  torn  out.  It  was  a  most  danger 
ous  post,  as  the  men  stationed  there  had  two  decks  above  them,  and  in 
case  the  vessel  should  go  down  their  escape  was  shut  off.  Allen  and  his 
men  were  deluged  with  the  torrents  of  water  which  rushed  in  through 
the  openings  with  every  pitch  of  the  vessel.  It  was  necessary  to.  work 
the  pumps  early  in  the  day,  and  this  was  kept  up  constantly.  Men  never 
fought  against  adverse  circumstances  with  more  desperation  than  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Trenton  displayed  during  those  hours  when  the 
flag-ship  was  beaten  about  by  the  gale.  There  was  not  an  idle  man  on  the 
ship.  The  entire  supervision  of  affairs  outside  of  the  manoeuvring  of 
the  vessel  fell  upon  Lieutenant-Commander  H.  W.  Lyon,  who  afterwards 
received  the  commendation  of  his  superior  officers  for  the  efficient  ser 
vices  which  he  rendered  during  the  storm.  Among  the  officers  who 
rendered  most  valuable  assistance  were  Lieutenants  Graham,  Scott,  and 
Allen,  and  Ensign  Blanden. 

"By  the  skilful  use  of  a  storm-sail,  the  Trenton  kept  well  out  in  the 
harbor  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and  then  she  was  forced  over 
towards  the  eastern  reef.  Destruction  seemed  imminent,  as  the  great 
vessel  was  pitching  heavily,  and  her  stern  was  but  a  few  feet  from  the 
reef.  This  point  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  shore,  and  if  the  Tren 
ton  had  struck  the  reef  there,  it  is  probable  that  not  a  life  would  have 
been  saved.  A  skilful  manoeuvre,  which  was  suggested  by  Lieutenant 
Brown,  saved  the  ship  from  destruction.  Every  man  was  ordered  into 
the  port  rigging,  and  the  compact  mass  of  bodies  was  used  as  a  sail.  The 
wind  struck  against  the  men  in  the  rigging  and  forced  the  vessel  out  into 
the  bay  again.  She  soon  commenced  to  drift  back  against  the  Olga, 
which  was  still  standing  off  the  reef  and  holding  up  against  the  storm 
more  successfully  than  any  other  vessel  in  the  harbor  had  done.  The 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  257 

Trenton  came  slowly  down  on  the  Olga,  and  this  time  it  seemed  as  if 
both  vessels  would  be  swept  on  the  reef  by  the  collision  and  crushed  to 
pieces.  People  on  the  shore  rushed  to  the  water's  edge  and  waited  to 
hear  the  crash  which  would  send  to  the  bottom  both  men-of-war  and 
their  loads  of  human  lives.  Notwithstanding  the  dangerous  situation  of 
the  ships,  a  patriotic  incident  occurred  at  this  time  which  stirred  the 
hearts  of  all  who  witnessed  it.  The  storm  had  been  raging  so  furiously 
all  day  that  not  a  flag  had  been  raised  on  any  of  the  vessels.  As  the 
Trenton  approached  the  Olga,  an  officer  standing  near  Admiral  Kimberly 
suggested  that  the  flag  be  raised.  The  Admiral,  whose  whole  attention 
had  been  absorbed  in  directing  the  movements  of  the  ship,  turned  for  a 
moment  to  the  group  of  officers  near  him,  and  said,  '  Yes,  let  the  flag 
go  up!' 

"  In  an  instant  the  stars  and  stripes  floated  from  the  gaff  of  the 
Trenton,  and  to  those  on  shore  it  seemed  as  if  the  gallant  ship  knew  she 
was  doomed,  and  had  determined  to  go  down  with  the  flag  of  her 
country  floating  above  the  storm.  The  Olga,  seeing  the  approach  of  the 
Trenton,  attempted  to  steam  away,  but  just  as  she  had  commenced  to 
move  up  against  the  wind,  her  bow  came  in  contact  with  the  starboard 
quarter  of  the  flag-ship.  The  heavy  timbers  of  the  Trenton's  quarter 
were  shivered,  several  boats  were  torn  from  the  davits,  and  the  American 
flag,  which  had  just  been  raised,  was  carried  away  and  fell  to  the  deck 
of  the  Olga.  Fortunately,  the  vessels  drifted  apart  after  the  collision,  and 
no  serious  damage  was  done.  The  Olga  steamed  ahead  towards  the  mud 
flats  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  bay,  and  was  soon  hard  and  fast  on  the 
bottom.  Not  a  life  was  lost,  and  several  weeks  later  the  ship  was  hauled 
off  and  saved. 

"The  Trenton  was  not  able  to  get  out  into  the  bay  again  after  her 
collision  with  the  Olga.  She  was  now  about  two  hundred  feet  from  the 
sunken  Vandalia,  and  was  slowly  drifting  towards  the  shore.  A  new 
danger  seemed  to  arise.  The  Trenton  was  sure  to  strike  the  Vandalia, 
and  to  those  on  shore  it  seemed  that  the  huge  hull  of  the  flag-ship  would 
crush  the  Vandalia  to  pieces  and  throw  into  the  water  the  men  still 
clinging  to  the  rigging.  It  was  now  after  five  o'clock,  and  the  daylight 
was  beginning  to  fade  away.  In  a  half-hour  more  the  Trenton  had 
drifted  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Vandalia's  bow,  and  feelings  hard  to 
describe  came  to  the  hundreds  who  watched  the  vessels  from  the  shore. 

"The  memory  of  the  closing  incidents  of  that  day  will  cling  to  me 
through  life,  for  they  were  a  spectacle  such  as  few  have  ever  seen.  No 
American  can  recall  those  patriotic  features  without  feeling  a  glowing 
pride  in  the  naval  heroes  of  his  country.  I  was  standing  with  others  as 
far  down  on  the  beach  as  it  was  safe  to  be,  watching  the  ships  through 
the  gathering  darkness,  and  every  incident  that  occurred  came  under  my 
personal  notice. 


258  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"  Presently  the  last  faint  rays  of  daylight  faded  away,  and  night  came 
down  upon  the  awful  scene.  The  storm  was  still  raging  with  as  much 
fury  as  at  any  time  during  the  day.  The  poor  creatures  who  had  been 
clinging  for  hours  to  the  rigging  of  the  Vandalia  were  bruised  and 
bleeding;  but  they  held  on  with  the  desperation  of  men  who  were  hang 
ing  between  life  and  death.  The  ropes  had  cut  the  flesh  on  their  arms 
and  legs,  and  their  eyes  were  blinded  by  the  salt  spray  which  swept  over 
them.  Weak  and  exhausted  as  they  were,  they  would  be  unable  to  stand 
the  terrible  strain  much  longer.  They  looked  down  at  the  angry  waters 
below  them,  and  knew  that  they  had  no  strength  left  to  battle  with  the 
waves.  The  final  hour  seemed  to  be  upon  them.  The  great  black  hull 
of  the  Trenton  could  be  seen  through  the  darkness,  almost  ready  to  crash 
into  the  stranded  Vandalia  and  grind  her  to  atoms.  Suddenly  a  shout 
was  borne  across  the  waters.  The  Trenton  was  cheering  the  Vandalia. 
The  sound  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  voices  broke  upon  the  air,  and  was 
heard  above  the  roar  of  the  tempest.  '  Three  cheers  for  the  Vandalia  !' 
was  the  cry  that  warmed  the  hearts  of  the  dying  men  in  the  rigging. 

"The  shout  died  away  upon  the  storm,  and  there  arose  from  the 
quivering  masts  of  the  sunken  ship  a  response  so  feeble  it  was  scarcely 
heard  upon  the  shore.  'Men  who  felt  that  they  were  looking  death  in 
the  face  aroused  themselves  to  the  effort,  and  united  in  a  faint  cheer  for 
the  flag-ship.  Those  who  were^  standing  on  the  beach  listened  in  silence, 
for  that  feeble  cry  was  the  saddest  they  had  ever  heard.  Every  heart  was 
melted  to  pity.  '  God  help  them  !'  was  passed  from  one  man  to  another. 
The  cheer  had  hardly  ceased  when  the  sound  of  music  came  across  the 
water.  The  Trenton's  band  was  playing  'The  Star-Spangled  Banner/ 
The  thousand  men  on  sea  and  shore  had  never  before  heard  strains  of 
music  at  such  a  time  as  that.  An  indescribable  feeling  came  over  the 
Americans  on  the  beach  who  listened  to  the  notes  of  the  national  song 
mingled  with  the  howling  of  the  storm. 

"  Men  who  had  exhausted  every  means,  during  the  whole  of  that  awful 
day,  of  rendering  some  assistance  to  their  comrades,  now  seemed  inspired 
to  greater  effort.  They  ran  about  the  beach  eager  to  afford  help,  even 
at  the  risk  of  life  itself.  They  looked  despairingly  at  the  roaring  torrent 
of  water  that  broke  upon  the  shore,  and  knew  that  no  boat  could  live  in 
such  a  sea.  Bravely  as  the  Samoans  had  acted,  there  was  not  one  of  them 
who  would  again  venture  into  the  surf,  where  certain  death  would  befall 
them. 

"  Persons  on  shore  were  simply  powerless,  and  there  was  nothing  to 
do  but  remain  on  the  beach  ready  to  lend  assistance  in  any  possible  way 
which  might  present  itself. 

"  But  the  collision  of  the  Trenton  and  Vandalia,  instead  of  crushing 
the  latter  vessel  to  pieces,  proved  to  be  the  salvation  of  the  men  in  the 
rigging.  When  the  Trenton's  stern  finally  struck  the  side  of  the  Van- 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  259 

dalia,  there  was  no  shock,  and  she  swung  around  broadside  to  the  sunken 
ship.  This  enabled  the  men  on  the  Vandalia  to  escape  to  the  deck  of 
the  Trenton,  and  in  a  short  time  they  were  all  taken  off. 

"  By  ten  o'clock  at  night  the  natives  and  nearly  all  the  white  persons 
who  had  watched  the  storm  seemed  to  be  satisfied  that  no  further 
harm  could  come  to  the  two  ships ;  and  the  shore,  which  had  been 
thronged  with  people  all  day,  was  soon  deserted.  The  three  Nipsic  offi 
cers  and  myself  patrolled  the  beach  all  night  in  the  hope  of  rescuing 
some  one  who  might  not  have  escaped  to  the  Trenton.  We  found  but 
one  man,  Ensign  Ripley,  who  had  jumped  from  the  Vandalia  before  the 
Trenton  touched  her,  and  had  reached  the  shore.  He  was  lying  on  the 
beach  exhausted  and  about  to  be  washed  out  by  the  undertow  when  we 
came  upon  him  and  carried  him  to  the  consulate.  The  storm  had  abated 
at  midnight,  and  when  day  dawned  there  was  no  further  cause  for  alarm. 
The  men  were  removed  from  the  Trenton  and  provided  with  quarters  on 
shore. 

"  During  the  next  few  days  the  evidences  of  the  great  disaster  could  be 
seen  on  every  side.  In  the  harbor  were  the  wrecks  of  four  men-of-war, 
— the  Trenton,  Vandalia,  Adler,  and  Eber;  and  two  others,  the  Nipsic 
and  Olga,  were  hard  and  fast  on  the  beach  and  were  hauled  off  with 
great  difficulty.  The  wrecks  of  ten  sailing  vessels  also  lay  upon  the 
reefs.  On  shore,  houses  and  trees  were  blown  down,  and  the  beach  was 
strewn  with  wreckage  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other. 

"  Above  the  whole  scene  of  destruction  the  stars  and  stripes  and  the 
flag  of  Rear-Admiral  Kimberly  floated  from  the  shattered  masts  of  the 
Trenton,  as  if  to  indicate  that  America  was  triumphant  even  above  the 
storm.  The  American  naval  forces  took  entire  control  of  the  town,  and 
a  guard  of  Marines,  under  Captain  R.  W.  Huntington,  of  the  Trenton, 
and  Lieutenant  Fillette,  of  the  Nipsic,  was  stationed  in  every  locality  to 
prevent  any  trouble  which  might  arise  on  account  of  the  great  confusion 
which  prevailed  on  shore. 

"A  muster  showed  that  one  hundred  and  forty-four  lives  had  been 
lost  in  the  storm.  Of  these,  ninety-one  were  from  the  German  ships, 
Eber  and  Adler.  The  Vandalia  had  lost  four  officers  and  thirty-nine 
men,  and  the  Nipsic  had  lost  seven  men.  One  man  was  killed  on  the 
Trenton  by  a  piece  of  flying  timber,  and  two  victims  from  the  schooner 
Lily  were  added  to  the  list. 

11  Not  more  than  one-third  of  the  bodies  were  recovered.  The  others 
were  either  swept  under  the  coral  reefs  in  the  harbor,  or  washed  far  out 
to  sea."  * 

17 


260  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

THE    PARIS    EXPOSITION. 

1889. — ON  the  1 3th  of  April  a  detachment  of  Marines,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  H.  C.  Cochrane,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  assisted 
by  First  Lieutenant  P.  St.  C.  Murphy,  United  States  Marine  Corps, 
sailed  on  the  steamer  La  Gascoigne  for  duty  at  the  Paris  Exposition. 
The  detachment  reached  Havre  on  the  2ist  and  Paris  on  the  22d. 

The  Exposition  opened  on  the  6th  of  May  with  imposing  ceremonies, 
and  the  splendid  detachment  of  American  Marines  received  not  only  the 
applause  of  their  countrymen,  but  the  admiration  of  the  foreigners  present. 

The  duty  assigned  the  Marines  was  performed  with  faithfulness, 
soldierly  exactitude,  and  firmness,  and  one  of  the  interesting  features  of 
the  Exposition  was  the  American  quarter,  where  could  be  seen  daily  these 
soldiers  from  the  New  World. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July  the  detachment  marched  from  the  Ecole  Mili- 
taire,  the  barracks  where  they  were  quartered,  to  the  grave  of  Lafayette. 
There,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Cochrane  and  Lieutenant  Murphy, 
and  in  the  presence  of  a  large  multitude,  the  American  Marines  decorated 
with  flowers  the  modest  tomb  of  America} 's  hero. 

The  following  description  of  the  ceremony  is  taken  from  Galignani's 
Messenger,  of  the  5th  of  July  of  that  year  : 

"This  ceremony  took  place  on  Thursday  morning,  July  4,  at  ten 
o'clock,  at  the  small  cemetery,  attached  to  the  convent  of  the  Soeurs 
Blanches,  Rue  Picpus,  where  General  Lafayette  is  buried.  Dr.  Thomas 
W.  Evans,  acting  as  chairman  of  the  organizing  committee,  received 
at  the  gate  of  the  convent  the  persons  who  came  to  take  part  in  the 
ceremony.  Among  those  present  were  the  American  Minister,  Mr. 
Whitelaw  Reid,  General  W.  B.  Franklin,  Consul-General  Rathbone,  Dr. 
J.  A.  Tonner,  Hon.  Andrew  D.  White,  Colonel  Cody,  Mr.  N.  Salisbury, 
Rev.  Rowland  B.  Howard,  Rev.  Dr.  Thurber,  Mr.  Ward  De  Lancey, 
General  Meredith  Read,  Lieutenant  H.  D.  Bomp,  United  States  army, 
military  attache  to  the  American  legation,  etc.  A  little  after  ten  the 
United  States  Marines  from  the  exhibition  grounds,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Cochrane,  made  their  appearance,  whereupon  the  procession 
was  immediately  organized.  The  Marines,  with  the  stars  and  stripes 
floating,  opened  the  march,  followed  closely  by  the  representatives  of  the 
Lafayette  family,  Minister  Whitelaw  Reid,  General  Franklin,  Dr.  Thomas 
W.  Evans,  Consul-General  Rathbone,  and  all  the  members  of  the  organ 
izing  committee,  who  were  present,  carrying  flowers  and  beautiful 
wreaths,  who  were  followed  by  the  whole  assembly.  The  procession 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  261 

slowly  marched  to  the  tomb  of  General  Lafayette,  which  is  situated  at 
some  distance  from  the  entrance  of  the  convent, — the  funeral  march  being 
played  by  the  buglers  of  the  Marines.  The  Marines  surrounded  the 
modest  tombstone,  and  reversed  their  rifles.  The  wreath-bearers  then 
advanced,  one  by  one,  to  deposit  their  floral  offerings  on  the  tomb. 
When  the  decoration  was  completed,  M.  Edmond  de  Lafayette,  the 
grandson  of  the  general,  stepped  forward,  and  in  a  few  but  touching 
words  expressed,  in  the  name  of  the  Lafayette  family  and  in  his  own,  to 
all  present,  the  sincerest  and  warmest  thanks  for  this  beautiful  demon 
stration  of  the  gratitude  of  the  American  people  to  their  well-beloved 
relative.  Captain  Cochrane  then  drew  up  his  command  in  line,  and  the 
United  States  Marines  fired  three  volleys  of  musketry  over  the  grave  of 
the  Franco-American  hero.  The  whole  ceremony  in  its  simplicity  was 
of  a  very  imposing  character,  and  will  be  remembered  by  all  present  as 
one  of  the  most  impressive  demonstrations  which  has  ever  been  made  in 
France  by  foreigners  in  memory  of  a  deceased  French  citizen.  It  will  be 
an  interesting  fact  to  the  many  Americans  who  attended  the  ceremony, 
to  know  that  they  were  very  near — some  even  upon — American  soil ;  for 
at  the  time  of  the  death  of  General  Lafayette,  the  United  States  govern 
ment,  as  a  testimony  of  gratitude  to  the  deceased,  sent  to  France  some 
American  earth,  which,  it  was  desired,  should  be  mingled  with  the 
French  soil,  on  the  place  where  the  body  of  the  French  general  of  the 
United  States  army  was  interred." 

On  the  ipth  of  November  the  detachment  was  honored  by  the  presen 
tation  of  medals  by  the  American  exhibitors ;  the  officers'  medals  being 
•of  gold  and  those  of  the  men  of  bronze.  Captain  Cochrane,  the  com 
mander,  also  had  conferred  upon  him  the  decoration  of  Chevalier  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor,  and  complimented  in  general  order  upon  return. 

(From  Army  and  Navy  Register,  December  14,  1889.) 

"The  following  letter  has  been  addressed  by  Secretary  Tracy  to  the 
committee  of  American  exhibitors  at  the  Paris  Exposition  : 

"NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  December  6,  1889. 

"  SIR, — Colonel  C.  G.  McCawley,  commandant,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  has  sent 
to  the  Department  a  copy  of  a  communication  addressed  to  him  under  date  of  the  26th 
ultimo,  by  Captain  H.  C.  Cochrane,  United  States  Marine  Corps,  who  commanded  the 
detachment  of  Marines  on  guard  duty  in  connection  with  the  American  exhibit  at  the 
Universal  Exposition  of  1889,  at  Paris,  in  which  he  gives  an  account  of  the  presenta 
tion  of  commemoration  medals,  one  of  gold  to  each  of  the  officers  and  one  of  bronze  to 
each  of  the  men  of  the  detachment,  by  the  American  exhibitors. 

"  Captain  Cochrane  refers  to  the  presentation  as  an  incident  of  unusual  interest  and  as 
an  event  of  the  most  gratifying  character.  That  the  members  of  the  Marine  detach 
ment  should  have  been  so  highly  esteemed  by  all  with  whom  they  came  in  contact, 
during  their  term  of  duty  at  the  Exposition,  is  not  only  very  gratifying  to  each  and 
every  one  of  them,  but  also  to  the  Department  and  the  Corps  they  represent. 

"  They  will  bring  with  them  the  emblem  of  that  esteem  in  the  beautiful  and  appropriate 


262  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

medals  bestowed  on  them  by  their  highly-intelligent  and  appreciative  countrymen, 
and  will  long  cherish  the  recollection  of  the  kind  words  for  and  generous  courtesies  to 
them  at  all  times,  and  especially  on  the  brilliant  occasion  when  they  were  recipients  of 
such  marked  honors.  The  Department  avails  itself  of  this  means  of  making  known  to 
the  committee  its  appreciative  sense  of  the  distinction  conferred  on  the  detachment  by 
the  American  exhibitors. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  B.  F.  TRACY, 
"  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
11  JAMES  ALLEN,  ESQ., 

"  Representative  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  Secretary  of  Committee  of 
American  Exhibition" 

(From  Galignani's  Messenger,  November  20,  1889.) 

11  As  a  token  of  regard  for  the  detachment  of  United  States  Marines, 
who  have  been  on  duty  at  the  Paris  Exposition,  a  fete  was  given  in  their 
honor  last  night  by  the  American  Exhibitors'  Committee,  who  had 
struck  commemorative  medals  for  distribution  among  the  officers  and 
men  as  a  souvenir  of  their  stay  in  this  city.  The  ceremony  was  presided 
over  by  Mr.  Somerville  Tuck,  United  States  assistant  commissioner- 
general,  in'  the  spacious  rooms  of  the  Salons  Delmonico,  which  were 
suitably  ornamented  with  the  stars  and  stripes  and  the  French  tricolor. 
It  was  hoped  that  the  United  States  Minister,  Mr.  Whitelaw  Reid,  would 
be  present,  but  at  the  last  moment  he  wrote  to  Captain  Cochrane  as 
follows  : 

"  DEAR  CAPTAIN, — The  physicians  still  think  it  best  to  keep  me  shut  up,  and  as  I 
could  not  go  out  to-day  it  would  seem  to  be  defying  them  to  go  out  to-night.  I  am 
sorry  not  to  be  able  to  witness  the  deserved  decoration  of  your  splendid  little  body  of 
men,  of  whom  we  have  all  been  so  proud  during  the  last  six  months. 

"The  Marines,  who,  as  usual,  presented  a  splendid  appearance,  were 
under  the  orders  of  Captain  Cochrane  and  Lieutenant  Murphy.  There 
were  present,  besides  the  chairman,  United  States  Consul-General 
Rathbone,  Captain  Maigret,  representing  the  President  of  the  republic; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Delorme,  on  behalf  of  the  Minister  of  Marine ;  M. 
Crosier,  for  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  and  some  officers  representing 
the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  of  French  Infantry,  which  served  in  Amer 
ica  during  the  Revolution;  Senator  Lafayette,  General  Meredith  Read, 
Messrs.  Hammer,  Miles,  W.  Stiassny,  and  James  Allan,  members  of  the 
committee ;  General  Young,  Mr.  Amory  Austin,  and  Mr.  Washington  I. 
Adams,  of  the  United  States  Commission  ;  Mr.  J.  B.  Jackson,  late  of 
the  United  States  Navy;  Dr.  Tonner;  Mr.  Williams,  United  States 
consul  at  Rouen  ;  Captain  Zalinski  of  the  United  States  Fifth  Artillery; 
Mr.  Ellis,  private  secretary  to  the  United  States  Minister  in  Paris; 
Messrs.  Jeffrey  and  Chanute,  the  deputation  sent  from  Chicago  to  make 
a  special  report  on  the  exhibition  ;  Messrs.  Gunnell,  Bickford,  Collins, 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  263 

Butterworth  and  Pfcilip  Franklin,  nephew  of  General  Franklin,  United 
States  commissioner-general,  who  has  returned  to  America ;  M.  Armand 
Dumaresq,  the  artist ;  Mr.  J.  H.  Hobson,  Mr.  Henry  Haynie,  Mr. 
Hatch,  Mr.  George  Strong,  and  Mr.  Small,  of  Baltimore,  and  many 
others. 

"  Mr.  Somerville  Tuck,  in  opening  the  proceedings,  addressed  the  offi 
cers  and  men  as  follows  : 

"  '  Among  the  many  pleasant  experiences  which  have  fallen  to  my  lot 
this  summer,  none  equals  this,  when  I  have  the  honor  to  make  a  presen 
tation  which  is  the  object  of  our  being  here  to  night.  A  number  of  the 
exhibitors  in  the  United  States  section  have  had  the  happy  thought  of 
uniting  themselves  for  the  purpose  of  showing  their  approval  of  the  ser 
vice  done  by  you,  and  determined  that  it  should  take  the  form  of  a 
diploma  and  commemorative  medal.  You  represent  a  Corps,  the  most 
ancient  in  the  military  and  naval  organization  of  our  country,  and  now 
well  into  the  second  century  of  its  existence.  Beginning  with  a  bat 
talion  it  now  equals  a  brigade,  and  bears  the  same  proportion  to  our  for 
tunately  small  warlike  organization  as  the  similar  bodies  of  the  Old 
World.  Military  in  form,  you  serve  almost  entirely  with  the  Navy,  of 
which  you  form  part,  and  to  which  you  impart  a  military  character. 
Yours  is  a  corps  which  has  also  served  with  the  army  in  the  field,  in  our 
campaigns  with  foreign  foes,  against  the  Indians,  in  political  and  labor 
riots,  at  large  conflagrations,  and  scarcely  any  event  in  our  history  can 
be  recalled  where  the  Marines  have  not  been  actors,  and  always  to  their 
renown  and  credit.  I  can  recall  the  Tripolitan  and  Corean  wars,  the 
only  occasions  that  United  States  troops  captured  a  fort  in  the  Old 
World,  China,  the  Japan  expedition,  your  landing  at  Alexandria,  the 
Panama  expedition,  when  within  three  hours  every  depot  had  its  draft  en 
route  for  New  York  to  sail  within  twenty-four  hours,  and  lastly  Samoa, 
in  this  present  year,  when  Marines  volunteered  for  the  fire-room, 
shovelled  coal  into  the  furnace  of  a  sinking  ship,  the  Vandalia,  and 
those  who  reached  the  land  instantaneously  took  up  their  duty. 

"  '  Peace  has  its  victories  as  well  as  war.  Your  Corps  has  always  been 
selected  upon  the  occasion  of  civic  processions  and  solemnities.  In 
1878  you  served  here  in  a  similar  capacity.  Let  me  quote  the  words  of 
General  Bullock,  of  Massachusetts,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion  of 
the  closing  celebration  in  that  year  :  "  At  the  recent  distribution  of  prizes, 
when  the  flag  of  our  distant  country  came  into  the  building  under  the 
guardian  custody  of  those  manly  representatives  of  American  discipline, 
you  saw  and  heard  and  felt  the  plaudits  which  ran  over  the  vast  building 
with  a  freshness  and  heartiness  which  it  seemed  to  me  was  accorded  in 
no  equal  degree  to  any  other  nationality.  It  was  the  tribute  of  French 
men  and  Frenchwomen.  I  saw  thousands  of  the  women  of  France  around 
me  who  rivalled  the  enthusiasm  of  the  colder  and  sterner  sex.  It  was  the 


264  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

spontaneous  tribute  of  Frenchmen  and  Frenchwomen  to  the  fond  recol 
lections  of  the  past.  The  memories  of  D'Estaing  and  Franklin,  of  La 
fayette  and  Washington,  floated  in  the  very  air." 

' '  '  History  repeats  itself,  and  no  words  of  mine  could  more  fully  describe 
your  reception  and  appearance  and  the  applause  given  you  on  the  2oth 
of  September  last. 

"  '  With  such  a  record  as  yours,  it  was  natural  that  the  commission,  of 
which  I  was  a  member,  should  have  applied  for  your  detail  at  this  exhi 
bition.  Your  commandant  responded  with  the  alacrity  characteristic  of 
your  Corps.  His  choice  of  your  officers  was  particularly  happy.  Your 
captain  I  have  had  the  privilege  of  knowing  for  many  years,  a  modest 
gentleman  and  gallant  soldier,  who  will  bravely  bear  always  the  cross 
which  came  to  him  from  the  executive  of  this  our  sister  great  republic, 
and  which  has  the  great  and  exceptional  merit  of  having  been  conferred 
and  not  sought.  Your  lieutenant  I  met  for  the  first  time  when  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  receiving  you  at  Havre  ;  but  he  was  not  unknown  to  me,  and 
the  coincidence  was  a  most  singular  one.  At  the  time  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  requested  your  detail,  I  met  a  lieutenant  of  the  Navy,  an  old  friend, 
and,  saying  to  him  I  had  outgrown  or  lost  sight  of  my  old  officer  friends 
in  your  Corps,  and  had  no  idea  of  the  selection  that  might  be  made,  he 
replied  that  there  was  a  gentleman  and  officer  who  had  been  so  courteous 
and  so  considerate  to  him  on  his  last  court-martial  (my  friend  has  a 
record  of  about  two  in  every  five  years)  that  he  would  like  very  much  to 
see  him  get  the  billet.  The  name  was  mentioned;  I  could  do  nothing, 
knowing  the  etiquette  which  forbids  the  applying  for  any  particular 
officer  for  details  of  this  kind;  but  I  was  most  happy  to  know  that  my 
friend's  desire  had  been  fulfilled  when  I  was  presented  to  your  lieutenant 
upon  the  steamer  in  the  roads  of  Havre. 

"  'The  gentlemen  who  have  made  this  testimonial  preserve  their  ano 
nymity  to  such  a  degree  that  I  know  only  the  secretary  of  the  manifesta 
tion,  and  must  to  him,  therefore,  and  for  you,  express  my  official  and  per 
sonal  gratitude  for  this  graceful  recognition  of  services  well  and  faithfully 
done.  No  medal  was  ever  more  worthily  bestowed,  and  in  years  to  come 
it  will  be  to  you  all  a  beautiful  souvenir  of  the  important  part  borne  by 
you  in  this  great  triumph  of  labor  and  industry,  which  has  allayed  party 
strife  at  home,  promoted  international  conciliation,  and  by  assembling  the 
nations  of  the  earth  in  friendly  intercourse  brought  so  much  nearer  the 
time  when  there  will  be  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men. 

"  '  In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  express  my  pleasure  at  welcoming  here 
to-night  the  officers  of  the  Twenty-eighth  of  the  Line,  a  regiment  which 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  our  line  in  the  days  that  tried  men's 
souls,  which  helped  us  to  become  the  old  republic  of  the  New  World, 
and  brought  back  from  America  principles  which  have  expanded  until 
France  is  to-day  the  new  but  eternal  republic  of  the  Old  World.' 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  265 

"  The  medals  and  diplomas  having  been  distributed,  the  kindness  which 
prompted  the  testimonials  was  acknowledged  in  a  spirited  and  humorous 
speech  by  Captain  Cochrane,  who  also  paid  a  tribute  to  the  magnificent 
hospitality  dispensed  by  the  Paris  municipality. 

"  Senator  Lafayette,  who  spoke  in  English,  was  enthusiastically  cheered. 
He  thanked  the  committee  for  inviting  him  to  be  present  on  such  an  in 
teresting  occasion,  and  congratulated  the  officers  and  men  upon  the 
rewards  which  they  had  so  thoroughly  deserved.  He  hoped  they  would 
keep  in  their  hearts  the  best  remembrance  of  France  and  the  French ; 
and  he  wished  them  a  happy  and  safe  return  to  their  country, — that  land 
of  liberty,  prosperity,  and  progress, — the  land  of  Washington." 

The  following  is  the  general  order  of  the  commandant  of  the  Corps, 
publishing  the  letters  of  General  W.  B.  Franklin,  commissioner-general 
of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Hon.  B.  F.  Tracy,  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  in  relation  to  the  detachment : 


GENERAL  ORDER  No.  i. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  MARINE  CORPS, 

WASHINGTON  D.  C,  January  10,  1890. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  the  following  letters  of  General  W.  B.  Franklin,  com 
missioner-general  of  the  United  States  to  the  Universal  Exposition  of  1889,  at  Paris, 
and  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  referring  to  the  soldierly  bearing  and  excellent 
conduct  of  the  detachment  of  Marines  lately  on  duty  at  that  Exposition,  are  published 
to  the  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

C.  G.  McCAWLEY, 

Colonel-  Commandant. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  January  9,  1890. 

SIR, — The  department  takes  pleasure  in  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  communication,  ad 
dressed  to  it  under  date  of  the  jd  instant,  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  accompanied  by  a 
copy  of  a  letter  from  General  W.  B.  Franklin,  commissioner-general  to  the  Paris 
Exposition,  commendatory  of  the  detachment  of  Marines  at  the  Paris  Exposition. 

Very  respectfully, 

B.  F.  TRACY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
COLONEL  C.  G.  MCCAWLEY, 

Commandant  Marine  Corps  Head-qiiarters. 

OFFICE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  COMMISSIONER-GENERAL, 

PARIS  EXPOSITION  OF  1889, 
HARTFORD,  CONNECTICUT,  December  28,  1889. 

SIR, — I  have  been  officially  informed  that  the  detachment  of  United  States  Marines, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Henry  Clay  Cochrane,  United  States  Marine  Corps, 
assisted  by  Lieutenant  P.  St.  C.  Murphy,  of  the  same  Corps,  which  you  were  so 
kind  as  to  detail  for  service  at  the  Paris  Universal  Exposition  of  1889,  has  returned  to 
the  United  States,  arriving  at  New  York  on  the  24th  instant.  I  make  the  following 
statement  concerning  them. 


266  History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps. 

Their  behavior  during  the  Exposition  and  after  its  close  was  in  all  respects  what  it 
ought  to  have  been  ;  they  were  admirable  in  discipline  ;  their  conduct  was  irreproach 
able  ;  their  performance  of  duty  was  excellent. 

Their  soldierly  bearing  and  military  appearance  were  far  ahead  of  these  qualities  of 
any  troops  which  I  saw  at  the  Exposition  or  in  Paris.  When  they  appeared  as  a  body  they 
were  enthusiastically  received,  and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion,  not  only  of  those 
connected  with  the  United  States  Commission,  but  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
who  visited  the  Exposition,  that  their  presence  added  dignity  to  the  United  States  ex 
hibit,  and  that  they  did  honor  to  their  country  and  their  flag. 

Captain  Cochrane  and  Lieutenant  Murphy  not  only  performed  their  duties  admirably 
as  the  officers  of  the  detachment,  but  were  of  great  assistance  to  me  in  various  other 
duties  that  they  were  kind  enough  to  undertake. 

The  French  authorities  of  the  War  Department  were  very  kind  in  their  reception  of 
them,  and  in  transporting  them  and  in  furnishing  their  quarters  in  the  barracks  of  the 
Ecole  Militaire,  with  French  troops.  In  fact,  all  French  troops  treated  them  as  com 
rades,  and  the  relations  between  these  soldiers  and  them  were  of  the  pleasantest  kind. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Tonner,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  resident  in  Paris,  and  medical 
attache  of  the  United  States  Commission,  attended  the  detachment  professionally  with 
out  compensation.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  acknowledge  his  efficient  and  patriotic 
service. 

I  thank  you  for  having  given  me  the  opportunity  of  close  acquaintance  with  such 
excellent  troops. 

Respectfully  yours, 
(Signed)  W.  B.  FRANKLIN, 

United  States  Commissioner-  General. 

HON.  B.  F.  TRACY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Through  Department  of  State. 


History  of  the  United  States  Marine  Corps.  267 


CONCLUSION. 

''This  record  of  the  principal  public  services  of  the  Corps  for  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  years  exhibits  an  infinite  variety,  and  give  some  idea 
of  the  great  utility  and  mobility  of  this  important  arm  of  the  national 
defence.  These  qualities  have  helped  to  secure  for  them  the  highest 
commendations  of  the  most  famous  commanders  of  any  age,  and  when, 
in  1866,  a  proposition  was  made  to  abolish  the  Corps  as  such  and  transfer 
it  to  the  army,  Congress  was  overwhelmed  with  the  recorded  views  of 
such  old  heroes  as  Hull,  Decatur,  Bainbridge,  Biddle,  Parker,  Perry, 
Morris,  Stockton,  Shubrick,  and  Tatnall,  and  of  later  days,  Farragut, 
Porter,  Rowan,  Stringham,  Paulding,  Dupont,  Sands,  Rodgers,  Foote, 
Davis,  Worden,  and  Dahlgren, — a  mighty  list,  which  might  be  much 
further  extended. 

"As  a  result,  the  House  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs,  charged  with 
the  resolution,  not  only  reported  adversely,  but  went  so  far  as  to  say, 
*  From  the  beginning  this  Corps  seems  to  have  satisfactorily  fulfilled  the 
purposes  of  its  organization,  and  no  good  reason  appears  either  for 
abolishing  it  or  transferring  it  to  the  army ;  on  the  contrary,  the  com 
mittee  recommend  that  its  organization  as  a  separate  Corps  be  preserved 
and  strengthened,  and  that  its  commandant  shall  have  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general. 

"  Congress  has  nineteen  times,  by  joint  resolution,  tendered  its  thanks 
to  the  Marines,  or  expressed  its  high  sense  of  their  valor  and  good  con 
duct,  and  the  greatest  generals  have  added  their  tributes  to  those  of  the 
naval  commanders." 

The  services  of  the  Marines  during  the  Civil  War  were  recognized  by 
the  government  by  conferring  brevets  on  twenty-two  officers.  "  Medals 
of  Honor"  were  also  conferred  on  nine  sergeants,  five  corporals,  and  two 
privates  for  the  Corean  expedition.  Medals  were  conferred  on  three 
corporals  and  four  privates,  and  nine  privates  received  "  Honorable 
mention." 

In  times  of  riot  and  disorder,  when  the  police  have  been  unequal  to 
suppress  violence,  the  Marines  have  been  loyal  and  faithful  in  maintain 
ing  the  supremacy  of  the  law,  and  in  all  cases  when,  in  emergencies, 
they  have  been  called  upon  to  take  the  field  as  a  part  of  the  military  force 
of  the  country,  their  steady  discipline  and  valor  have  been  attested. 


APPENDIX. 


PART    I. 
REGISTER  OF  OFFICERS  FROM  1798  TO  1891, 


270 


Appendix. 


REMARKS. 

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274 


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REMARKS. 

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276 


Appendix. 


REMARKS. 

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Kane,T.  P  
Karmany,  L  
Keene,  Newton  
Kellopg,  Lyman  
Kennedy,  II.  W  
Kennedy.  Philin  C  

Register  of  Officers  from  1798  to  1891. 


277 


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pt.  Oct.  30, 
831  ;  Major 
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2,  1833. 


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278 


Appendix. 


VET 
NK. 


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280 


Appendix. 


REMARKS. 

Dismissed  July  10,  1837. 
Died  Feb.  7,  1812. 
In  service. 

In  service. 

Diprt  »t  SOA  Anril  4.  1858 

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Powers,  Darius  C  
Prime.  Joshua  

:    :       ':::':           :    i    i    •    :       : 

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Richardson,  Benj  
Riddle,  R.  B  
Rich,  Jabez  C  
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Sevier,  Alexander  

Register  of  Officers  from  1798  to  1891. 


281 


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282 


Appendix. 


REMARKS. 

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Died  Aug.  31,  1890. 
Killed  in  battle  Sept.  13,  1847. 

Dismissed  May  4,  1861  ;  joined 
C.  S.  A.J 
Dismissed  June  21,  1861  ;  joined 
C.  S.  A.| 
Resigned  in  1812. 

Died  Dec.  11,  1883. 

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Urquehart,  John  
Wallace,  William  

Register  of  Officers  from  1798  to  1891. 


283 


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284 


Appendix. 


REMARKS. 

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Thanks,  Medals,  and  Swords  awarded  to  the  Corps.         285 
PART    II. 

THANKS,    MEDALS,    AND    SWORDS    AWARDED    TO    THE    CORPS. 

CAPTURE  of  the  French  frigate  Insurgente,  by  the  United  States  frigate 
Constellation,  February  i,  1799  :  Lieutenant  Bartholomew  Clinch. 

Constellation  in  action  with  the  French  ship-of-war  La  Vengeance, 
February  i,  1800:  Lieutenant  Bartholomew  Clinch. 

Capture  of  the  Tripolitan  ship-of-war  Tripoli,  by  the  United  States 
schooner  Enterprise,  August  i,  1801  :  Lieutenant  E.  S.  Lane. 

Capture  and  destruction  of  a  Tripolitan  frigate,  the  Philadelphia,  of 
forty-four  guns,  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  by  the  United  States  ketch 
Intrepid,  February  16,  1804.  The  following  men  volunteered  :  Sergeant 
Solomon  Wren,  Corporal  Duncan  Mansfield,  Privates  James  Noble,  John 
Quinn,  Isaac  Campbell,  Reuben  O' Brian,  William  Pepper,  J.  Wols- 
frandoff. 

The  attacks  on  the  city  and  harbor  of  Tripoli  in  July,  August,  and 
September, ,  1804 :  Captain  John  Hall,  Lieutenant  Robert  Greenleaf, 
Lieutenant  John  Johnson. 

Killed  before  Tripoli,  August  7,  1804:  Sergeant  John  Meredith, 
Private  Nathaniel  Holmes. 

Constitution  in  action  with  the  Guerriere,  August  19,  1812:  First 
Lieutenant  William  S.  Bush  (killed),  Second  Lieutenant  John  Contee. 

United  States  in  action  with  the  Macedonian,  October  25,  1812: 
Lieutenant  William  Anderson,  Lieutenant  James  L.  Edwards. 

Capture  of  the  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  October  8,  1812  :  First  Lieu 
tenant  William  H.  Freeman,  Second  Lieutenant  John  Contee. 

Victory  on  Lake  Erie,  September  10,  1813:  Lawrence,  First  Lieu 
tenant  John  Brooks  (killed),  Sergeant  James  Tull,  Sergeant  William  S. 
Johnson.  Caledonia,  Sergeant  Joseph  Beckley,  Sergeant  James  Artis. 
Scorpion,  Corporal  Joseph  Berry.  Porcupine,  Corporal  David  Little. 
Trippe,  Corporal  John  Brown.  Tigress,  Corporal  William  Webster. 
Niagara,  Captain  George  Stockton,  Lieutenant  John  Heddleston,  Ser 
geant  Jonathan  Curtis,  Sergeant  Sanford  A.  Mason.  Wasp,  in  action 
with  the  Reindeer,  June  28,  1814,  Sergeant  William  O.  Barnes. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
present  to  Captain  Thomas  Truxtun  a  gold  medal,  emblematical  of  the 
late  action  between  the  United  States  frigate  Constellation,  of  thirty- 
eight  guns,  and  the  French  ship-of-war  La  Vengeance,  of  fifty-four;  in 
testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained  by  Congress  of  his  gallantry  and 
good  conduct  in  the  above  engagement,  wherein  an  example  was  exhib 
ited  by  the  captain,  officers,  sailors,  and  Marines,  honorable  to  the 
American  name,  and  instructive  to  its  rising  Navy. 

Approved  March  29,  1800. 


286  Appendix. 

Resolved,  That  they  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the  gallant  conduct  of 
Lieutenant  Sterett,  and  the  other  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines,  on  board 
the  schooner  Enterprise,  in  the  capture  of  a  Tripolitan  corsair  of  fourteen 
guns  and  eighty  men. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  present  Lieu 
tenant  Sterett  a  sword,  commemorative  of  the  aforesaid  heroic  action  ; 
and  that  one  month's  pay  be  allowed  to  all  the  other  officers,  seamen, 
and  Marines  who  were  on  board  the  Enterprise  when  the  aforesaid  action 
took  place. 

Approved  February  3,  1802. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  pre 
sent,  in  the  name  of  Congress,  to  Captain  Stephen  Decatur,  a  sword, 
and  to  each  of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  United  States  ketch 
Intrepid  two  months'  pay,  as  testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained 
by  Congress  of  the  gallantry,  good  conduct,  and  services  of  Captain 
Decatur,  the  officers  and  crew,  of  the  said  ketch,  in  attacking,  in  the 
harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  destroying,  a  Tripolitan  frigate  of  forty-four 
guns. 

Approved  November  27,  1804.. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby, 
presented  to  Commodore  Edward  Preble,  and  through  him  to  the  offi 
cers,  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  attached  to  the  squadron  under 
his  command,  for  their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  displayed  in  the 
several  attacks  on  the  town,  batteries,  and  naval  force  of  Tripoli,  in  the 
year  1804. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  a  gold 
medal  to  be  struck,  emblematical  of  the  attacks  on  the  town,  batteries, 
and  naval  force  of  Tripoli  by  the  squadron  under  Commodore's  Preble's 
command,  and  present  it  to  Commodore  Preble  in  such  a  manner  as,  in 
his  opinion,  will  be  most  honorable  to  him;  and  that  the  President  be 
further  requested  to  cause  a  sword  to  be  presented  to  each  of  the  com 
missioned  officers  and  midshipmen  who  have  distinguished  themselves  in 
the  several  attacks. 

That  one  month's  pay  be  allowed,  exclusive  of  the  common  allowance, 
to  all  the  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  the  squadron  who  so 
gloriously  supported  the  honor  of  the  American  flag,  under  the  orders  of 
their  gallant  commander,  in  the  several  attacks. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  also  requested  to  com 
municate  to  the  parents,  or  other  near  relatives,  of  Captain  Richard 
Somers,  Lieutenants  Henry  Wadsworth,  James  Decatur,  James  R.  Cald- 
well,  Joseph  Israel,  and  Midshipman  John  Sword  Dorsey,  the  deep  regret 
which  Congress  feels  for  the  loss  of  those  gallant  men,  whose  conduct 
ought  to  be  regarded  as  an  example  to  future  generations. 

Approved  March  3,  1805. 


Thanks,  Medals,  and  Swords  awarded  to  the  Corps.          287 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby, 
requested  to  present  to  Captain  Hull,  of  the  frigate  Constitution,  Cap 
tain  Decatur,  of  the  frigate  United  States,  and  Captain  Jones,  of  the 
sloop-of-war  Wasp,  each  a  gold  medal,  with  suitable  emblems  and  devices  ; 
and  a  silver  medal,  with  like  emblems  and  devices,  to  each  commissioned 
officer  of  the  aforesaid  vessels,  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained 
by  Congress  of  the  gallantry,  good  conduct,  and  services  of  the  cap 
tains,  officers,  and  crews  of  the  aforesaid  vessels,  in  their  respective 
conflicts  with  the  British  frigates,  the  Guerriere  and  the  Macedonian,  and 
the  sloop-of  war  Frolic  ;  and  the  President  is  also  requested  to  present  a 
silver  medal,  with  like  emblems  and  devices,  to  the  nearest  male  rel 
ative  of  Lieutenant  Bush,  and  one  of  the  nearest  male  relatives  of 
Lieutenant  Funk,  in  testimony  of  gallantry  and  merit  of  those  deceased 
officers,  in  whom  their  country  has  sustained  a  loss  much  to  be  regretted. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  re 
quested  to  present  to  Lieutenant  Elliot,  of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States, 
an  elegant  sword,  with  suitable  emblems  and  devices,  in  testimony  of  the 
just  sense  entertained  by  Congress  of  his  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in 
boarding  and  capturing  the  British  brigs  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  while 
anchored  under  the  protection  of  Fort  Erie. 

Approved  January  29,  1813. 

Resolved,  Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  that  the  President  of  the  United  States 
be,  and  is  hereby  authorized,  to  have  distributed  as  prize  money,  to  Cap 
tain  Isaac  Hull,  of  the  frigate  Constitution,  his  officers  and  crew,  the 
sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  capture  and  destruction  of  the 
British  frigate  Guerriere,  and  the  like  sum,  in  like  manner,  to  Captain 
William  Bainbridge,  his  officers  and  crew,  for  the  capture  and  destruction 
of  the  British  frigate  Java ;  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  in 
like  manner,  to  Captain  Jacob  Jones,  of  the  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  his  officers 
and  crew,  for  the  capture  of  the  British  sloop-of-war  Frolic ;  and  that 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  out  of  any 
money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  be,  and  the  same  is 
hereby,  appropriated  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

Approved  March  3,  1813. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby, 
presented  to  Captain  Thomas  Macdonough,  and,  through  him,  to  the 
officers,  petty  officers,  seamen,  Marines,  and  infantry  serving  as  Marines, 
attached  to  the  squadron  under  his  command,  for  the  decisive  and 
splendid  victory  gained  on  Lake  Champlain,  on  the  eleventh  of  Sep 
tember,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fourteen,  over  a 
British  squadron  of  superior  force. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  gold 
medals  to  be  struck,  emblematical  of  the  action  between  the  two  squad 
rons,  and  to  present  them  to  Captain  Macdonough  and  Captain  Robert 


288  Appendix. 

Henley,  and  also  to  Lieutenant  Stephen  Cassin,  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  most  favorable  to  them  ;  and  that  the  President  be  further  requested 
to  present  a  silver  medal,  with  suitable  emblems  and  devices,  to  each  of 
the  commissioned  officers  of  the  Navy  and  Army  serving  on  board,  and 
a  sword  to  each  of  the  midshipmen  and  sailing-masters  who  so  nobly 
distinguished  themselves  in  that  memorable  conflict. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  present  a 
silver  medal,  with  like  emblems  and  devices,  to  the  nearest  male  relative 
of  Lieutenant  Peter  Gamble,  and  of  Lieutenant  John  Stansbury,  and  to 
communicate  to  them  the  deep  regret  which  Congress  feels  for  the  loss  of 
those  gallant  men,  whose  names  ought  to  live  in  the  recollection  and 
affection  of  a  grateful  country. 

That  three  months'  pay  be  allowed,  exclusive  of  the  common  allow 
ance,  to  all  the  petty  officers,  seamen,  Marines,  and  infantry  serving  as 
Marines,  who  so  gloriously  supported  the  honor  of  the  American  flag  on 
that  memorable  day. 

Approved  October  20,  1814. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby, 
presented  to  Captain  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  and  through  him  to  the 
officers,  seamen,  Marines,  and  infantry  serving  as  such,  attached  to  the 
squadron  under  his  command,  for  the  decisive  and  glorious  victory  gained 
on  Lake  Erie,  on  the  tenth  of  September,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred 
and  thirteen,  over  a  British  squadron  of  superior  force. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  gold 
medals  to  be  struck,  emblematical  of  the  action  between  the  two  squad 
rons,  and  to  present  them  to  Captain  Perry  and  Captain  Jesse  D.  Elliott, 
in  such  manner  as  will  be  most  honorable  to  them  ;  and  that  the  President 
be  further  requested  to  present  a  silver  medal,  with  suitable  emblems  and 
devices,  to  each  of  the  commissioned  officers,  either  of  the  Navy  or  army, 
serving  on  board,  and  a  sword  to  each  of  the  midshipmen  and  sailing- 
masters  who  so  nobly  distinguished  themselves  on  that  memorable  day. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  present  a  silver 
medal,  with  like  emblems  and  devices,  to  the  nearest  male  relative  of 
Lieutenant  John  Brooke,  of  the  Marines,  and  a  sword  to  the  nearest  male 
relatives  of  Midshipmen  Henry  Laub  and  Thomas  Claxton,  Jr.,  and  to 
communicate  to  them  the  deep  regret  which  Congress  feels  for  the  loss  of 
those  gallant  men  whose  names  ought  to  live  in  the  recollection  and 
affection  of  a  grateful  country,  and  whose  conduct  ought  to  be  regarded 
as  an  example  to  future  generations. 

That  three  months'  pay  be  allowed,  exclusively  of  the  common  allow 
ance,  to  all  the  petty  officers,  seamen,  Marines,  and  infantry  serving  as 
;such,  who  so  gloriously  supported  the  honor  of  the  American  flag,  under 
the  orders  of  their  gallant  commander,  on  that  signal  occasion. 

Approved  January  6,  1814. 


Thanks,  Medals,  and  Swords  awarded  to  the  Corps.         289 

Resolved,  That  Congress  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the  valor  and  good 
conduct  of  Commodore^  D.  T.  Patterson,  of  the  officers,  petty  officers, 
and  seamen  attached  to  his  command,  for  their  prompt  and  efficient  co 
operation  with  General  Jackson,  in  the  late  gallant  and  successful  defence 
of  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  when  assailed  by  a  powerful  British  force. 

That  Congress  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the  valor  and  good  conduct  of 
Major  Daniel  Carmick,  of  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
Marines,  under  his  command  in  the  defence  of  the  said  city  on  the  late 
memorable  occasion. 

Approved  February  22,  1815. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby, 
requested  to  present  to  Captain  Charles  Stewart,  of  the  frigate  Constitu 
tion,  a  gold  medal,  with  suitable  emblems  and  devices,  and  a  silver 
medal,  with  suitable  emblems  and  devices,  to  each  commissioned  officer  of 
the  said  frigate,  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained  by  Congress  of 
the  gallantry,  good  conduct,  and  services  of  Captain  Stewart,  his  officers 
and  crew,  in  the  capture  of  the  British  vessels  of  war,  the  Cyane  and  the 
Levant,  after  a  brave  and  skilful  combat. 

Approved  February  22,  1816. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due,  and  are  hereby,  ten 
dered,  to  the  officers,  sailors,  and  the  Marines  of  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States,  for  the  zeal  and  ability  with  which  their  duty  during  the  late  war 
with  Mexico,  and  especially  their  efficient  co-operation  with  the  army  of 
the  United  States  in  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan 
de  Ulloa,  was  performed. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  the  fore 
going  resolution  to  be  communicated  to  the  officers,  sailors,  and  Marines 
of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States,  in  such  terms  as  he  may  deem  best 
calculated  to  give  effect  to  the  object  thereof. 

Approved  August  7,  1848. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due,  and  are  hereby  ten 
dered,  to  the  officers,  soldiers,  and  seamen  of  the  army  and  Navy  of  the 
United  States,  for  the  heroic  gallantry  that  under  the  providence  of  Al 
mighty  God  has  won  the  recent  series  of  brilliant  victories  over  the 
enemies  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution. 

Approved  February  22,  1862. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  ten 
dered  to  Captain  Samuel  F.  Dupont,  and  through  him  to  the  officers, 
seamen,  and  Marines  attached  to  the  squadron  under  his  command,  for 
the  decisive  and  splendid  victory  achieved  at  Port  Royal  on  the  seventh 
day  of  November  last. 

Approved  February  22,  1862. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  people  and  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  -are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered,  to  Captain  David  G. 


290  Appendix. 

Farragut,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  to  the  officers  and  men  under 
his  command,  composing  his  squadron  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  for  their 
successful  operations  on  the  lower  Mississippi  River,  and  for  their  gallantry 
displayed  in  the  capture  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  and  the  city  of 
New  Orleans,  and  in  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  gunboats  and  armed 
flotilla. 

SECTION  2.  And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
be  directed  to  communicate  this  resolution  to  Captain  Farragut,  and 
through  him  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command. 

Approved  July  n,  1862. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  ten 
dered  to  Captain  Louis  M.  Goldsborough,  and  through  him  to  the  officers, 
seamen,  and  the  Marines  attached  to  the  squadron  under  his  command, 
for  the  brilliant  and  decisive  victory  achieved  at  Roanoke  Island  on  the 
seventh,  eighth,  and  tenth  days  of  February  last. 

Approved  July  u,  1862. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  hereby  tendered  to  Commo 
dore  Ringgold,  the  officers,  petty  officers,  and  men  of  the  United  States 
ship  Sabine,  for  the  daring  and  skill  displayed  in  rescuing  the  crew  of 
the  steam  transport  Governor,  wrecked  in  a  gale  on  the  first  day  of  No 
vember,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-one,  having  on  board  a  battalion  of 
United  States  Marines,  under  the  command  of  Major  John  G.  Reynolds, 
and  in  search  for,  and  rescue  of,  the  United  States  line-of-battle-ship 
Vermont,  disabled  in  a  gale  upon  the  twenty-sixth  of  February  last,  with 
her  crew  and  freight. 

SECTION  2.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  be  directed  to  communicate 
the  foregoing  resolution  to  Commodore  Ringgold,  and  through  him  to 
the  officers  and  men  under  his  command. 

Approved  March  7,  1864. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
tendered  to  Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  commanding  the  Mississippi 
Squadron,  for  the  eminent  skill,  endurance,  and  gallantry  exhibited  by 
him  and  his  squadron,  in  co-operation  with  the  army,  in  opening  the 
Mississippi  River. 

Approved  April  19,  1864. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due,  and  are  hereby  ten 
dered,  to  Captain  John  A.  Winslow,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  to  the 
officers,  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  the  United  States  steamer 
Kearsarge,  for  the  skill  and  gallantry  exhibited  by  him  and  the  officers 
and  men  under  his  command  in  the  brilliant  action  on  the  iQth  of  June, 
1864,  between  that  ship  and  the  piratical  craft  Alabama,  a  vessel  superior 
to  his  own  in  tonnage,  in  guns,  and  in  the  number  of  her  crew. 

Approved  December  20,  1864. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  hereby  presented  to  Rear- 


Medals  of  Honor.  291 

Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  and  to  the  officers,  petty  officers,  seamen,  and 
Marines  under  his  command,  for  the  unsurpassed  gallantry  and  skill  ex 
hibited  by  them  in  the  attacks  upon  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  brilliant  and 
decisive  victory  by  which  that  important  work  has  been  captured  from 
the  rebel  forces,  and  placed  in  the  possession  and  under  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  and  for  their  long  and  faithful  services  and  unwaver 
ing  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  country  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest 
difficulties  and  dangers. 

SECTION  2.  And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  President  of  the 
United  States  be  requested  to  communicate  this  resolution  to  Admiral 
Porter,  and  through  him  to  the  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  under  his 
command. 

Approved  January  24,  1865. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  eminently  due,  and  are 
hereby  tendered,  to  Vice-Admiral  David  G.  Farragut,  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  and  to  the  officers,  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines 
under  his  command,  for  the  unsurpassed  gallantry  and  skill  exhibited  by 
them  in  the  engagement  in  Mobile  Bay,  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  1864, 
and  for  their  long  and  faithful  services  and  unwavering  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  the  country  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest  difficulties  and  dangers. 

SECTION  2.  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
communicate  this  resolution  to  Vice-Admiral  Farragut,  and  that  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  be  requested  to  communicate  the  same  to  the 
officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  the  Navy  by  general  order  of  his 
department. 

Approved  February  10,  1866. 

MEDALS    OF    HONOR. 

Sergeants. — J.  Henry  Denig,  United  States  ship  Brooklyn,  in  the  en 
gagement  in  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864;  Isaac  N.  Fry,  United  States 
ship  Ticonderoga,  in  the  attacks  on  Fort  Fisher;  Michael  Hudson, 
United  States  ship  Brooklyn,  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864;  James  Mar 
tin,  United  States  ship  Richmond,  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864;  Andrew 
Miller,  United  States  ship  Richmond,  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864; 
Christopher  Nugent,  United  States  ship  Fort  Henry,  in  charge  of  a 
reconnoitring  party  sent  into  Crystal  River,  Florida,  June  15,  1863,  and 
displayed  extraordinary  zeal,  skill,  and  discretion  in  driving  a  guard  of 
rebel  soldiers  into  a  swamp,  capturing  their  arms  and  destroying  their 
camp  equipage;  James  S.  Roantree,  United  States  ship  Oneida,  dis 
tinguished  gallantry ;  David  Sproule,  United  States  ship  Richmond, 
Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864;  P.  R.  Vaughan,  United  States  ship 
Mississippi,  Port  Hudson,  March  14,  1863. 

Corporals. — John  Mackie,  United  States  ship  Galena,  Fort  Darling,  May 
15,  1862  ;  Miles  M.  Oviatt,  United  States  ship  Brooklyn,  Mobile  Bay,  Au- 

19 


292  Appendix. 

gust  5,  1864;  John  Rannahan,  United  States  ship  Minnesota,  assault 
on  Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865;  William  Smith,  United  States  ship 
Brooklyn,  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864;  A.  J.  Tomlin,  United  States 
ship  Wabash,  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865  ;  Charles  Brown, 
United  States  ship  Colorado,  assisted  in  capturing  the  Corean  standard  in 
the  centre  of  the  citadel  of  the  Corean  Fort,  June  n,  1871;  John 
Morris,  United  States  ship  Lancaster,  rescuing  from  drowning  a  prisoner, 
who  had  jumped  overboard  at  Villefranche,  December  25,  1881;  James 
Stewart,  United  States  ship  Plymouth,  saved  from  drowning  Midship 
man  Osterhaus,  in  the  harbor  of  Villefranche,  February  i,  1872. 

Privates. — John  Shivers,  United  States  ship  Minnesota,  distinguished 
bravery  at  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865  ;  Henry  Thomp 
son,  United  States  ship  Minnesota,  distinguished  bravery  at  the  assault 
on  Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865;  John  Coleman,  United  States  ship 
Colorado,  fighting  hand-to-hand  with  the  enemy,  and  saving  the  life  of 
Alexander  McKenzie,  Corea,  June  n,  1871  ;  James  Dougherty,  United 
States  ship  Benicia,  seeking  out  and  killing  the  commander  of  the  Corean 
forces ;  Michael  McNamara,  gallantry  in  advancing  to  the  parapet, 
wrenching  the  matchlock  from  the  hands  of  an  enemy,  and  killing  him, 
at  the  capture  of  the  Corean  forts  ;  Hugh  Purvis,  United  States  ship 
Alaska,  was  the  first  to  scale  the  walls  of  the  fort  and  capture  the  flag  of 
the  Corean  forces. 

Honorable  Mention. — Privates  John  Kelly,  H.  U.  Tolman,  John  B. 
Butler,  of  the  United  States  ship  Alaska,  who  captured  flags  inside  of 
Fort  McKee,  Corea,  June  n,  1871.  Privates  Thomas  H.  Baker,  Daniel 
Barry,  John  Bourke,  Charles  C.  Collins,  William  Dever,  George  Mac- 
Intyre,  of  the  United  States  ship  Benicia,  who  captured  flags  in  the 
attack  on  the  Corean  forts,  June  n,  1871. 


PART    III. 

DURING  that  period,  following  the  Revolution,  when  the  United  States 
had  no  naval  force  of  importance,  efforts  were  successfully  made  to  close 
up  the  accounts  of  the  old  Navy,  in  order  to  organize  a  new  and  efficient 
department.  On  the  ist  of  August,  1787,  an  act  of  Congress  was 
passed,  providing  "  That  the  commissioner  of  Marine  accounts,  in 
settling  the  accounts  of  the  officers,  seamen,  and  Marines  of  the  late 
Navy  of  the  United  States,  govern  himself  by  the  principles  established 
for  the  line  of  the  army,  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  loth  of  April, 
1780,  so  far  as  the  same  relates  to  the  allowance  for  depreciation;  pro 
vided,  that  no  officer,  seaman,  or  Marine  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of 


Acts  of  Congress  governing  Marines.  293 

this  resolve  who  was  not  in  service,  or  liable  to  be  called  into  service,  on 
the  loth  of  April,  1780. 

1780. — On  the  8th  of  January,  1780,  it  was  provided  by  act  of  Con 
gress,  "  That  the  Marines  of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States,  whilst  doing 
garrison  duty,  be  allowed  the  same  subsistence  moneys  as  are  allowed  to 
the  officers  of  the  line  of  the  army." 

1794. — The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  act  of  Congress,  passed 
March,  27,  1794: 

WHEREAS,  the  depredations  committed  by  the  Algerine  corsairs  on  the  commerce  of 
the  United  States  render  it  necessary  that  a  naval  force  should  be  provided  for  its  pro 
tection  : 

SECTION  I.  Be  it  therefore  enacted,  &c.,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be 
authorized  to  provide,  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  equip,  and  employ  four  ships,  to  carry 
forty-four  guns  each,  and  two  ships  to  carry  thirty-six  guns  each. 

SECTION  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  there  shall  be  employed  on  board  each 
of  the  said  ships  of  forty-four  guns,  one  captain,  four  lieutenants,  one  lieutenant  of 
Marines,  one  chaplain,  one  surgeon,  and  two  surgeon's  mates;  and  in  each  of  the  ships 
of  thirty-six  guns,  one  captain,  three  lieutenants,  one  lieutenant  of  Marines,  one  sur 
geon,  and  one  surgeon's  mate,  who  shall  be  appointed  and  commissioned  in  like  manner 
as  other  officers  of  the  United  States  are. 

SECTION  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  crews  of  each  of  the  said  ships  of 
forty-four  guns  shall  consist  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  seamen,  one  hundred  and  three 
midshipmen  and  ordinary  seamen,  one  sergeant,  one  corporal,  one  drum,  one  fife,  and 
fifty  Marines :  and  that  the  crews  of  each  of  the  said  ships  of  thirty-six  guns  shall  con 
sist  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  able  seamen  and  midshipmen,  ninety  ordinary  seamen, 
one  sergeant,  two  corporals,  one  drum,  one  fife,  and  forty  Marines,  over  and  above  the 
officers  herein  before  mentioned. 

SECTION  9.  That  if  a  peace  shall  take  place  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Regency  of  Algiers,  that  no  further  proceeding  be  had  under  this  act. 

1797. — The  following  Act  was  approved  July  x,  1797 : 

SECTION  I.  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  empowered, 
should  he  deem  it  expedient,  to  cause  the  frigates  United  States,  Constitution,  and 
Constellation  to  be  manned  and  employed. 

SECTION  2.  That  there  shall  be  employed  on  board  each  of  the  ships  of  forty-four 
guns,  one  captain,  four  lieutenants,  two  lieutenants  of  Marines,  one  chaplain,  one  sur 
geon,  and  two  surgeon's  mates;  and  in  the  ship  of  thirty-six  guns,  one  captain,  three 
lieutenants,  one  lieutenant  of  Marines,  one  surgeon,  and  one  surgeon's  mate. 

SECTION  4.  That  the  crews  of  each  of  the  ships  of  forty-four  guns  shall  consist  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  seamen,  one  hundred  and  three  midshipmen  and  ordinary  sea 
men,  three  sergeants,  three  corporals,  one  drum,  one  fife,  and  fifty  Marines;  and  that 
the  crew  of  the  ship  of  thirty-six  guns  shall  consist  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  able  sea 
men  and  midshipmen,  ninety  ordinary  seamen,  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  one  drum, 
one  fife,  and  forty  Marines,  over  and  above  the  officers  herein  before  mentioned. 

SECTION  14.  That  this  Act  shall  continue  in  force  for  the  term  of  one  year,  and  from 
thence  to  the  end  of  the  then  next  session  of  Congress,  and  no  longer. 

1815. — The  following  unique    document,  bearing  date  of  April  30, 


294  Appendix. 

1815,  was  addressed  to  Thomas  Turner,  Esquire,  an  accountant  in  the 
Navy  Department,  by  Captain  S.  Bacon  of  the  Marine  Corps  : 

SIR, — I  herewith  present  my  last  series  of  accounts  with  your  department ;  and  on 
this  date  I  have  resigned  my  appointment  in  the  staff  of  this  Corps.  If  my  accounts 
with  you  should  not  be  in  every  instance  correct,  you  will,  I  hope,  do  me  the  justice  to 
advert  to  the  period  of  war  and  uncommonly  troublesome  times  during  which  I  have 
held  it.  Not  only  that  the  multiplicity  and  complicated  detail  of  its  duties  require,  in 
order  to  their  proper  and  judicious  discharge,  that  a  quartermaster  should  be  a  tailor, 
blacksmith,  painter,  glazier,  armorer,  carpenter,  wagoner,  and  butcher.  Of  these  ele 
vated  professions  I  have  not  the  happiness  to  be  master.  I  have,  therefore,  exchanged 
the  bodkin  for  the  sword.  In  the  hands  of  a  man  of  exemplary  patience,  the  former 
may  be  a  very  good  thing  to  untie  the  Gordian  knots  of  a  quartermaster's  office  with, 
but  I  prefer  to  "  cut  the  matter  short"  by  resuming  the  latter,  which,  especially  in  time 
of  war,  is  somewhat  preferable  to  being  acting  wagoner  to  Commodore  Barney.  Seri 
ously,  the  duties  of  the  office  are  perplexing  to  an  infinite  degree,  and  require  better 
health  than  I  have  to  bestow.  Be  pleased  to  accept  my  unfeigned  thanks  for  the  readi 
ness  with  which  you  have  met  all  my  wishes,  in  my  official  intercourse  with  you,  and 
believe  me  your  friend,"  etc. 

1818. — Captain  John  Heath,  of  the  Marines,  and  Commodore  Oliver 
H.  Perry  fought  a  duel  in  New  Jersey,  near  the  city  of  New  York,  in 
1818.  According  to  Sabine,  the  quarrel  arose  while  the  two  officers 
were  in  the  Mediterranean,  in  1815.  Perry,  in  referring  to  it,  said,  "I 
did,  rn  a  moment  of  irritation,  produced  by  strong  provocation,  raise  my 
hand  against  a  person  honored  with  a  commission."  A  court-martial 
followed  the  difficulty,  and  both  were  privately  reprimanded  by  Commo 
dore  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  American  Squadron  in  that  sea. 
Some  time  after  their  return  to  the  United  States,  Heath  sent  a  challenge. 
Perry,  in  remarking  upon  his  course  in  the  combat,  declared,  "  I  cannot 
consent  to  return  his  fire,  as  the  meeting  on  my  part  will  be  entirely  as 
an  atonement  for  the  violated  rules  of  the  service."  Heath  fired  and 
missed.  Perry,  in  accordance  with  his  determination,  withheld  his  fire. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1839,  tne  commanding  officers  of  the  ships 
connected  with  the  Florida  squadron  united  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  asking  for  an  increase  in  the  number  of  men  under  their 
command.  The  letter  is  of  value,  as  setting  forth  clearly  the  nature  and 
value  of  the  services  of  the  Marines  on  ship-board.  This  document  re 
ceived  the  approval  of  Commodore  Shubrick,  who  sent  it  to  Washington, 
accompanying  it  with  his  hearty  approbation.  The  following  is  the  letter 

in  full : 

PENSACOLA,  August  26,  1839. 

The  undersigned,  commanding  officers  of  the  several  ships  composing  this  squadron, 
beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  Marine  guards  belonging  to  the  same,  and  to  sug 
gest  the  advantage  that  would  result  from  an  increased  number  of  Marines  on  board 
each  ship.  The  different  detachments  are  not  sufficiently  numerous  to  furnish  a  relief, 
according  to  military  usage,  for  the  number  of  sentinels  posted.  The  Macedonian  re 
quires  eight  sentinels  daily, — viz.,  one  at  each  cabin  door,  one  in  each  gangway,  one 


The  Marine  Corps  in  1874.  295 

on  the  forecastle,  one  in  the  foreorlop,  one  at  the  cockpit,  one  at  the  galley,  and  one  at 
the  scuttle-butt ;  to  furnish  which  requires  a  daily  guard  of  twenty-four  privates,  with  a 
corresponding  number  as  a  relief-guard,  making,  without  allowing  for  sickness  and  other 
casualties,  forty-eight  privates,  whereas  the  Macedonian's  guard  amounts  to  no  more 
than  twenty-one  privates. 

A  sloop-of-war  requires  six  sentinels, — viz.,  one  at  the  cabin  door,  one  at  the  fore 
castle,  one  in  each  gangway,  one  at  the  scuttle-butt,  and  one  at  the  galley;  which 
requires  a  daily  guard  of  eighteen  privates,  with  a  corresponding  number  as  a  relief- 
guard,  making  thirty-six  privates  ;  whereas  a  sloop-of-war  of  the  first  class  is  only 
allowed,  at  present,  ten  privates.  It  is  then  obvious  that  the  Marine  guards  of  the 
squadron  are  insufficient  to  furnish  the  requisite  number  of  sentinels.  We  therefore 
beg  leave  to  suggest  they  may  be  increased,  and  to  give  it  as  our  opinion  that  it  would 
be  an  advantage  to  the  service.  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  discuss  the  utility  of  a  Marine 
guard  as  a  part  of  the  crew  of  a  ship-of-war,  though  we  are  decided  advocates  for  it, 
even  beyond  former  usages ;  we  mean  as  to  numbers.  Our  whole  purpose  is  to  bring 
under  your  consideration  the  subject  as  it  now  exists.  If  Marines  are  necessary,  our 
ships  have  too  few  to  perform  the  duties  required  of  them  by  la.w  or  the  regulations  of 
the  Navy. 

If  we  could  be  permitted  to  express  our  opinion,  it  would  be  to  recommend  the  sub 
stitution  of  Marines  in  place  of  all  other  landsmen  now  in  service.  It  is  evident  that 
one  landsman  is  as  competent  to  do  the  pulling  and  hauling  duty  of  a  ship  as  another, 
and  that  a  body  of  well-disciplined  Marines  would  be  in  every  other  situation  prefer 
able  to  the  common  landsmen,  especially  when  engaged  in  any  service  on  shore,  which 
in  all  naval  operations  should  be  provided  for.  As  this  is  a  mere  passing  suggestion  of 
ours,  we  will  add,  if  the  duty  now  performed  by  the  after-guard,  waisters,  etc.,  of  a 
ship,  should  be  performed  by  the  Marines,  it  would  only  be  necessary  to  detail  a  guard 
daily  for  military  duty,  and  employ  the  rest  of  the  Marines  in  the  other  duties  gen- 
erally  of  the  ship.  As  many  seamen  would  thus  be  created  as  at  present,  there  being  no 
reason  why  a  Marine  cannot  be  taught  seamanship  as  well  as  any  other  landsman.  We 
should  then  blend  ours  and  the  French  system,  and  in  our  judgment  materially  improve 
both,  more  especially  if  the  Marine  Corps  should  be  composed  in  future  wholly  of  young 
Americans,  and  all  appointments  into  the  Corps  be  taken  from  the  graduates  of  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point.  In  conclusion,  we  beg  leave  to  remain,  very  respectfully, 

BEVERLY  KENNON,  Captain. 

W.  A.  SPENSER. 

WM.  V.  TAYLOR. 

Jos.  SMOOT. 

J.  D.  WILLIAMSON. 


VIEWS    OF    THE    ADMIRAL    OF    THE    NAVY    IN    REGARD    TO    THE 
MARINE  CORPS  IN  1874. 

"  The  duties  of  the  Marine  Corps  are  so  little  understood  by  the  public 
at  large  that  I  will  make  a  few  explanations  with  regard  to  them.  From 
time  immemorial  the  Corps  has  held  a  high  position  in  the  estimation  of 
the  most  experienced  officers  of  the  Navy,  and  whenever  an  effort  to  re 
duce  it  has  been  made  and  the  matter  has  been  carefully  examined  into 
by  Congress,  such  attempt  has  uniformly  failed. 

"From  the  foundation  of  our  Navy  the  Marines  have  always  been  a 


296  Appendix. 

most  effective  body  of  men,  without  which  the  Navy  would  be  of  com 
paratively  little  use. 

"  They  are  not  only  serviceable  as  the  police  of  ships,  but  are  part  of 
the  force  that  works  the  guns  and  sails. 

"  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  a  Marine's  whole  duty  is  to  march  up  and 
down  a  ship's  deck  with  a  musket  on  his  shoulder.  His  life  is  one  of 
hardship,  and,  in  addition  to  his  military  duties  on  board  ship,  he  has  to 
perform  many  of  the  duties  of  a  sailor ;  and  when  landings  are  to  be 
made  and  the  storming  of  forts  undertaken  he  takes  his  full  share.  The 
innumerable  instances  in  which  the  Marines  have  performed  efficient 
service  with  the  army  on  shore  have  been  honorably  mentioned  by  all  the 
officers  who  have  served  in  battle  with  them. 

"  Because  two  or  three  hundred  Marines  are  kept  in  barracks  here,  which 
is  the  head-quarters  of  the  Commandant  of  the  Corps,  it  must  not  be 
supposed  they  are  here  for  life,  or  merely  for  the  purpose  of  ornament. 
The  men  are  only  at  the  barracks  temporarily,  until  they  can  be  drilled 
into  the  duties  which  they  have  to  perform  on  shore  and  afloat,  and  as 
soon  as  a  Marine  is  familiar  with  those  duties  he  is  transferred  to  a  sea 
going  vessel.  The  present  bill,  providing  for  an  indiscriminate  reduc 
tion,  has  been  prepared  without  regard  to  the  wants  of  the  service,  and 
if  this  want  of  system  is  to  prevail  throughout  the  departments  of  the 
government,  the  entire  administration  of  affairs  .will  soon  be  out  of  joint. 

"The  number  of  Marines  is  carefully  estimated  for  ships'  use,  like  the 
number  of  soldiers  in  the  army,  and  is  based  on  the  actual  wants  of  the 
service,  and  no  one  would  feel  authorized  to  introduce  a  bill  to  cut  down 
the  army,  without  the  approval  of  the  head  of  the  Department,  any  more 
than  he  would  undertake  to  reduce  the  clerks  in  the  Treasury  without 
the  concurrence  of  the  Secretary. 

"  For  every  man  you  take  away  from  the  Marine  Corps  you  have  to  ship 
an  extra  sailor,  for  the  ship's  company  is  arranged  according  to  the 
number  of  Marines  to  be  ordered  to  the  vessel.  There  is  so  much  lifting 
force,  and  of  this  the  Marines  have  their  proportional  part.  You  might 
as  well  diminish  the  allowance  of  coal  and  expect  the  ships'  engines  to 
perform  their  duty  efficiently. 

"Owing  to  the  influence  of  an  old  commodore  in  the  Navy,  who  had 
false  notions  of  economy,  the  attempt  was  once  made  to  do  without 
Marines  in  some  of  our  ships-of-war,  and  sailors  were  placed  on  post  to 
do  duty. 

"The  Navy  soon  became  so  demoralized  that  the  veteran  commodore 
who  had  proposed  the  innovation  was  the  first  to  ask  a  return  to  the  old 
order  of  things.  A  ship  without  Marines  is  like  a  garment  without 
buttons. 

"  Every  vessel  in  the  service  has  her  regular  complement  of  Marines.  A 
frigate  like  the  Wabash,  with  the  reduced  allowance,  requires  fifty.  The 


The  Marine  Corps  in  1874.  297 

second-class  of  vessels  should  have  forty,  the  third-class  thirty,  and  the 
lower  class  fifteen  Marines. 

"There  should  now  be  afloat  in  vessels  of  the  Navy  fourteen  hundred 
Marines,  which  is  a  small  number  for  all  the  vessels  in  service ;  and  those 
ships  it  was  intended  to  put  in  commission  would  call  for  at  least  two 
hundred  and  sixty  more,  making  in  all  sixteen  hundred  and  sixty  afloat. 

"  The  Marines  required  to  protect  public  property  at  the  yards  would  be 
at  least  six  hundred  and  seventy  more ;  these  added  to  three  hundred  in 
barracks  learning  their  duties  would  amount  in  all  to  twenty-six  hundred 
and  thirty  men,  under  a  reduced  allowance  to  ships  and  stations. 

"It  may  be  aske.d  why  not  employ  watchmen  at  a  station  in  place  of 
Marines  ? 

"  In  the  first  place,  these  Marines  are  enlisted  for  five  years,  that  period 
having  been  fixed  by  experience  as  the  time  necessary  to  make  a  good 
soldier.  The  cruises  at  sea  are  a  little  over  two  years,  and  a  Marine 
during  his  term  of  service  performs  two  cruises,  the  intermediate  time 
being  spent  in  duty  at  Navy-Yards  and  stations  in  protecting  public 
property  and  keeping  up  drill  and  discipline. 

"Our  Navy-Yards  are  mostly  placed  at  or  near  crowded  cities,  with  a 
simple  wall  around  them  that  any  active  rascal  can  scale,  and  unless  care 
fully  guarded  a  large  amount  of  public  property  is  liable  to  be  destroyed 
or  carried  off.  The  -New  York  yard,  for  instance,  has  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  a  mile  of  wall  and  water  front,  and  this  requires  a  number  of  posts, 
all  within  sight  of  each  other,  so  as  to  leave  no  passes  for  thieves  and 
incendiaries  while  the  Marines  do  their  duty,  in  which  they  seldom  fail. 

"  Watchmen  could,  perhaps,  perform  this  service,  but  then  they  require 
double  the  pay  of  Marines ;  the  latter  receiving  thirteen  dollars  per 
month,  while  the  watchmen  get  two  dollars  per  day. 

"The  Marines  have  to  stand  out  in  all  weathers,  and  are  not  allowed, 
under  some  penalties,  to  leave  their  beat,  except  to  capture  suspicious 
persons,  and  are  visited  every  hour,  day  and  night,  while  the  watchmen 
in  stormy  weather  would  seek  some  place  of  shelter,  leaving  the  road 
open  to  depredation  on  the  public  property. 

"The  New  York  Navy-Yard  contains  some  twenty  millions  of  dollars 
worth  of  property,  in  houses  and  ships  on  the  stocks,  and  the  fact  that  no 
fires  occur,  and  nothing  is  lost  by  land  or  river  there,  is  the  best  proof 
that  the  system  of  employing  Marines  is  the  right  one. 

"While  the  government  property  at  the  New  York  yard  is  thus  pro 
tected,  the  whole  river  police,  and  the  so-called  effective  city  police,  do 
not  prevent  thieves  from  nightly  entering  houses  and  shops,  and  robbing 
vessels,  and  it  has  also  been  found,  on  several  occasions,  that  watchmen 
who  can  move  about  the  Navy- Yard  at  will  have  been  the  greatest  plun 
derers  of  all,  supplying  their  confederates  outside  the  wall  with  valuable 
commodities. 


298  Appendix. 

"Now,  watchmen,  as  at  present  employed,  cannot  carry  on  any  im 
proper  designs,  for,  even  if  so  inclined,  the  line  of  Marines  would  prevent 
their  doing  so. 

"  Our  wooden  ships,  insufficient  as  fighting  vessels  against  the  powerful 
ironclads  of  foreign  states,  would  be  still  more  helpless  without  Marines. 
In  battle  at  close  quarters  they  would  be  our  main  dependence  in  firing 
with  their  rifles  through  the  port-holes  of  an  iron  vessel,  her  only  vul 
nerable  points,  and  in  clearing  her  upper  decks  of  the  crew  when  the 
latter  assemble  to  repel  our  boarders ;  for  the  only  chance  we  should 
have  of  capturing  an  ironclad  would  be  running  alongside,  grappling 
the  ship,  and  boarding. 

"All  this  talk,  then,  about  abolishing  the  Marine  Corps,  or  changing  its 
organization,  is  absurd.  Gentlemen  without  any  knowledge  of  the  subject, 
and  without  inquiry,  introduce  measures  to  destroy  an  organization  that 
has  been  brought  to  its  present  state  of  efficiency  after  many  years  of  expe 
rience  and  the  fostering  care  of  the  old  and  faithful  commanding  officers 
of  the  Navy,  who  have  had  no  other  object  in  view  than  the  public  good. 

"  It  benefits  no  officer  personally,  or  otherwise,  whether  the  Marine 
guard  of  his  ship  consists  of  one  or  of  one  hundred  men,  but  a  com 
mander  on  the  eve  of  battle,  or  a  commandant  of  a  station,  sleeps  more 
soundly  when  the  one  knows  he  has  a  body  of  men  on  whom  to  rely  in 
action,  and  the  other  that  the  public  property  intrusted  to  his  charge  is 
carefully  guarded. 

"  I  will  only  suppose  that,  in  time  of  war,  incendiaries  employed  by  the 
enemy  should  succeed  in  firing  the  New  York  Navy- Yard,  with  all  its 
ship-houses  and  other  combustible  material.  What  would  be  the  result? 
The  work  of  years  would  be  destroyed  in  an  hour,  at  a  time  when  the 
government  could  not  remedy  the  evil,  and  we  should  lose  the  best  Navy- 
Yard  in  the  country. 

"  These  remarks  apply  to  all  the  other  Navy-Yards.  We  all  know  what 
a  dissolute  population  hangs  round  the  outskirts  of  the  Navy- Yards  at 
New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and  Norfolk,  and  how  much  of  the 
public  property  would  go  towards  the  benefit  of  that  class  of  people  were 
it  not  for  the  Marines,  with  whom  it  is  now  proposed  to  dispense. 

"  Now,  I  have  shown  above  the  actual  number  of  Marines  required  for 
the  Navy,  but  by  the  proposed  bill  they  will  be  reduced  to  fifteen  hun 
dred,  which  will  not  leave  a  single  one  to  perform  duty  on  shore.  The 
estimates  for  the  Corps  for  1874  were  $1,105,961,  and  this  it  is  proposed 
to  reduce  to  $877,616,  a  reduction  based  on  no  principle,  as  far  as  the 
wants  of  the  service  are  concerned. 

"  What  would  be  the  use  of  this  small  reduction  of  expense  ?  It  would 
only  serve  to  render  the  Marine  Corps  inefficient,  while  there  are  a  thou 
sand  leaks  in  other  departments  of  the  government  that  should  be  at 
tended  to  before  so  important  a  branch  of  the  naval  service  is  interfered 


The  Marine  Corps  in  1890.  299 

with.  The  present  moment,  of  all  others,  is  not  the  time  to  make  this  re 
duction,  when  our  ships  are  incompletely  manned. 

"  What  can  persons  outside  the  Navy  know  of  the  wants  of  the  service, 
compared  with  experienced  officers  who  have  had  these  matters  under 
•consideration  for  a  lifetime,  and  who  are  influenced  by  no  other  motive 
than  the  good  of  the  country  ? 

"Our  ships  at  present  have  only  half  allowance  of  Marines.  Don't 
let  us  cripple  them  further  by  unwise  legislation." 

Sixteen  years  later  the  admiral  again  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  OFFICE  OF  THE  ADMIRAL, 
"WASHINGTON.  D.  C.,  February  24,  1890. 

"  I  am  pleased  to  see  that  an  attempt  is  to  be  made  at  this  late  date  to 
do  justice  to  that  valuable  arm  of  Naval  defence,  the  Marine  Corps, 
which  has  aided  so  much  in  maintaining  the  discipline  of  the  Navy,  and 
has  always  covered  itself  with  honor  when  called  upon  to  serve  either 
afloat  or  on  shore. 

"  The  Marine  Corps  has  been  the  worst-treated  arm  of  our  national  de 
fence,  governed  partly  by  army  regulations,  yet  deprived  when  afloat  of 
the  benefit  of  army  clauses,  the  officers'  pay  cut  down  at  the  very  time 
when  they  most  need  it,  at  a  foreign  station  and  separated  from  their 
families.  The  officers  are  the  worst  paid  of  any  under  the  government. 

"  Although  the  size  and  organization  of  the  Corps  entitles  the  command 
ant  to  the  rank  and  pay  of  brigadier-general,  he  in  fact  holds  only  the 
rank  of  colonel.  No  good  reason  can  be  assigned  for  such  a  discrimina 
tion  as  this,  and  a  hundred  can  be  assigned  why  it  should  be  otherwise. 
In  the  first  place  it  diminishes  the  importance  of  the  Corps,  and  its  com 
manding  officer  has  the  mortification  of  seeing  an  entirely  unmilitary 
department  like  the  Signal  Service  of  the  army  commanded  by  a  briga 
dier-general,  who,  whatever  may  be  his  merits,  is  very  much  junior  to 
the  commandant  of  the  Marine  Corps,  who  served  faithfully  in  the  war 
with  Mexico  and  in  the  late  Civil  War. 

11  Never  in  its  history  did  the  Navy  stand  more  in  need  of  a  well  organ 
ized  Marine  Corps  than  at  the  present  moment.  We  are  building  a  new 
Navy;  we  are  enlisting  as  seamen  twenty  foreigners  to  one  American, 
and  more  than  ever  we  need  that  loyal  body,  the  Marines,  who  have  so 
faithfully  performed  their  duty  in  times  of  great  emergencies.  They  are 
more  necessary  now  than  ever  to  stand  by  the  captain  and  officers  of  a 
ship-of-war  in  case  of  mutiny,  among  a  set  of  foreign  sailors  whom  we 
have  no  right  to  expect  will  be  true  to  the  flag  under  all  circumstances. 
I  have  had  the  Marines  under  my  observation  since  the  year  1824,  when 
I  first  joined  an  American  man-of-war,  a  period  of  sixty-six  years,  and 
during  all  that  time  I  have  never  known  a  case  where  the  Marines  could 
not  be  depended  on  for  any  service.  Without  that  well-drilled  police  force 


300 


Appendix. 


on  shipboard,  an  American  man-of  war  could  not  be  depended  on  to 
maintain  discipline  and  perform  the  arduous  duties  assigned  her.  After 
the  Civil  War  (1867)  the  grade  of  brigadier-general  was  established,  and 
it  was  hoped  by  the  friends  of  the  Corps  that  it  would  become  a  per 
manent  office,  but  in  1874  the  office  of  brigadier-general  commandant 
was  abolished,  for  what  reason  no  one  can  understand.  The  present 
colonel  commandant,  after  serving  so  faithfully,  saw  the  prize  snatched 
from  him  and  assumed  the  office  of  commandant  in  the  same  rank  as  it 
stood  in  1834. 

"  Colonel  McCawley,  the  present  commandant,  retires  in  about  a  year, 
and  it  is  only  due  to  him  after  his  long  and  faithful  administration  that 
he  should  retire  as  brigadier-general.  Amid  all  the  embarrassments 
which  have  surrounded  the  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps,  the  Corps  has 
improved  from  year  to  year,  and  it  is  at  this  day  the  best  organized  and 
drilled  body  of  men  in  the  government  service.  In  proof  of  this  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  to  the  reports  made  in  relation  to  the  Marines  who  were 
recently  sent  to  do  duty  at  the  Paris  Exposition  ;  they  formed  one  of  the 
most  interesting  features  at  that  wonderful  exposition.  There  is  not  an 
intelligent  officer  of  the  Navy  who  can  speak  in  anything  but  praise  of 
the  Marine  Corps,  or  if  there  are  any,  I  cannot  conceive  upon  what  they 
can  ground  their  opposition." 

Table  of  Strength  from  November  10,  1775,  to  January  i,  1891.* 


"s 

1 

.5? 

M 

Colonel  Comdt. 

Colonel. 

Lieut.-  Colonels. 

•| 

s 

Staff-Majors. 

Staff-Captains. 

a 

'5 

s 

-3 

a 

a 
u 

a 
| 

£ 

a 

1 

en 

Non-Com.  Staff. 

Sergeants. 

Corporals. 

TJ 
B 
rt 

pq 

Drummers. 

1 

Privates. 

1 
1 

8 

B 

8 

I 

16 

18 

48 

1  6 

16 

720 

881 

6 

1  + 

1 

185 

594 

784 

<f      April  16   1814  ..   .. 

T 

12 

6r 

21 

21 

606 

846 

PEA     March  3    1817? 

ifi 

21 

75° 



4 

Ro 

8n 

— 

•J() 

T  ' 

IOOO 

1287 

'•'-, 

III2 

Total  



— 



— 

* 

— 

55 

^5 

2000 

2  399 

Act  July  25   1861  

6a 

60 

2500 

3167 

Authorized  July  i,  18671]"  .. 
"          Oct.  i,  i88off.. 

!** 

... 

i 

I 
x 

2 
2 

4 
4 

3 

3 

a 
a 

20 

20 

30 
3° 

3° 
J5 

4 

4 

240 

190 

260 
1  80 

30 
30 

6a 

43 

60 
48 

3000 
1500 

3747 
2078 

*  Among  the  earlier  acts  passed  by  Congress  relating  to  the  Marine  Corps  are :  an  act  for  the  estab 
lishing  and  organizing  of  a  Marine  Corps,  June  n,  1798;  an  act  authorizing  an  augmentation,  March  2, 
1799;  to  fix  rank  and  pay  of  commandant  (substituting  lieutenant-colonel  for  major),  April  22,  1800;  an 
act  authorizing  an  augmentation,  March  3, 1809  ;  an  act  for  same  purpose,  April  16, 1814  ;  to  fix  the  peace 
establishment,  March  3,  1817;  resolution  relating  to  compensation  of  officers,  May  29,  1830;  an  act 
concerning  certain  officers,  July  14,  1832;  resolutions  respecting  the  pay,  May  25,  1832;  an  act  to  im 
prove  the  condition  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the  army  and  Marine  Corps  and  prevent  desertion,  March  2, 
1833 ;  an  act  for  the  better  organization,  June  30,  1834 ;  and  an  act  making  certain  allowances  to  captains 
and  subalterns,  June  30,  1834.  t  This  act  added  eight  surgeons. 

t  Lieutenant-colonel  commandant  substituted  for  major.      $  Peace  Establishment  Act. 

I  For  the  war  with  Mexico.  f  By  President,  underact  of  March  3,  1849. 

**  Substituted  for  colonel-commandant  March  2,  1867,  and  reversed  June  6,  1874. 
ft  By  appropriation  act. 


Officers  of  the  Marine  Corps.  301 

"  From  time  to  time  the  Corps  has  been  increased  and  reduced  as  war  or 
peace  or  politics  suggested  (see  table),  and  has  now  by  law  the  strength 
of  July  25,  .1861,  although  annual  appropriation  has  been  made  for  one 
thousand  privates  less  since  1874.  The  President  has  power  to  substitute 
Marines  for  landsmen  (act  March  3,  1849)  >  to  provide  regulations  for 
their  discipline  ;  to  make  alterations  in  the  component  parts  of  the 
ration  ;  to  retire  officers  who  may  be  disabled,  or  have  attained  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years ;  to  advance  officers  not  exceeding  thirty  numbers  in 
rank  for  '  eminent  and  conspicuous  conduct  in  battle  or  extraordinary 
heroism  ;'  to  advance  officers  one  grade  who  have  received  the  thanks 
of  Congress  by  name ;  to  confer  brevet  commissions  as  in  like  cases 
in  the  army  (act  1814) ;  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  line  first  by  promotion 
and  then  by  appointment  from  graduates  of  the  Naval  Academy. 

"  Officers  are  on  the  same  footing  as  to  rank  and  privileges  as  similar 
grades  in  the  army ;  take  precedence  of  like  rank  in  the  volunteers  and 
militia  ;  may  be  associated  with  the  officers  of  the  army  on  courts-martial, 
the  senior  to  preside;  are  promoted  by  seniority  up  to  colonel;  cannot 
exercise  command  over  Navy-Yards  or  vessels  of  the  United  States  (act 
June  30,  1834);  and  no  officer  can  absent  himself  without  leave  until 
notified  of  the  acceptance  of  his  resignation.  The  staff  is  separate  from 
the  line,  and  appointed  by  the  President  by  selection  from  the  officers  of 
the  Corps,  as  is  the  commandant.  The  judge-advocate-general  of  the 
Navy  may  be  appointed  from  the  officers  of  the  Marine  Corps.  Both 
officers  and  men,  when  serving  with  the  land  forces,  are  entitled  to 
transportation,  subsistence,  camp  equipage,  etc.,  on  requisition;  are 
entitled  to  the  benefits  of  the  homestead  laws  and  of  the  government 
hospital  for  the  insane ;  to  pensions  for  wounds,  injury,  or  disease ;  to 
artificial  limbs  or  commutation  therefor  in  certain  cases;  to  credit  for 
previous  service  in  the  volunteer  army  or  Navy;  to  share  in  prize-money 
and  the  salvage  of  recapture ;  indemnity  for  loss  of  effects  where  vessel 
is  sunk  or  destroyed  (since  April  19,  1861) ;  and  to  pay  and  allowances 
of  like  grades  in  the  infantry  of  the  army,  which  is  paid  monthly  by  the 
paymaster  of  the  Corps  while  serving  ashore,  less  twenty  cents  deducted 
for  naval  hospital  fund. 

"Officers  enter  at  the  foot  of  the  list  of  second  lieutenants,  are  in 
structed  at  the  head-quarters  of  the  Corps  in  Washington,  and  thence 
distributed  to  posts;  later  they  may  attend  the  artillery  and  torpedo 
schools.  Being  combatants,  they  are,  in  reference  to  Mine  and  staff,' 
classed  as  line-officers,  except  the  five  who  constitute  the  Marine  staff 
(adjutant,  paymaster,  quartermaster,  and  two  assistant  quartermasters) 
on  shore,  are  subject  to  detail  for  all  military  duties,  and  on  board  ship 
either  command  the  guard  or  serve  as  juniors  with  the  commander;  the 
senior  is  assigned  the  fourth  room  from  forward  on  the  port  side,  and  the 
junior  takes  quarters  according  to  his  rank;  when  two  or  more  are  at- 


302  Appendix. 

tached  to  the  same  ship,  one  is  required  to  be  on  board  at  all  times  for 
duty.  By  regulation  the  senior  is  required  to  report  daily,  in  writing, 
to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  vessel  the  state  of  the  guard  ;  to  keep 
the  muster-rolls,  and  have  charge  and  make  returns  of  the  clothing,  arms, 
and  other  property  belonging  to  the  Marines;  to  exercise  them  in  the 
prescribed  drills  at  such  times  and  places  as  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  vessel  may  appoint;  to  be  attentive  to  their  comfort  and  cleanliness, 
as  well  as  their  soldier-like  appearance  and  efficiency ;  to  inspect  the 
extra  clothing  once  a  month,  and  report  its  condition  ;  to  report  his  guard 
or  division  when  mustered  at  quarters;  to  see  that  they  are  properly 
stationed  and  instructed  as  sentinels,  and  to  frequently  visit  them  at 
night.  All  general  orders  to  sentinels  must  pass  through  him,  and  any 
misbehavior  on  guard  or  on  duty  as  sentinels  must  be  reported  to  him  by 
the  officer  of  the  deck.  When  serving  on  shore  with  sailors  in  mixed 
detachments,  the  Marines  are  posted  on  the  right  without  regard  to  the 
rank  of  the  officers  commanding  companies.  The  senior  Marine  officer 
of  a  squadron  is  known  as  the  fleet-marine  officer.  He  organizes  and  in 
spects  all  the  Marines  in  the  squadron,  commands  the  guard  of  the  flag 
ship,  and  is  usually  the  judge-advocate  of  the  station.  Field-officers  are 
not  sent  to  sea.  All  company  officers  are  on  the  sea-roster,  which  is  kept 
by  the  commandant,  and  they  are  expected  to  go  in  regular  turn.  Three 
years  constitutes  a  cruise  and  entitles  to  shore  duty.  Non-commissioned 
officers  correspond  in  grade  to  those  of  the  army;  are  selected  from  the 
privates  for  character,  bearing  and  proficiency  in  drill,  arithmetic, 
tactics,  and  duties,  and  when  recommended  by  a  board  of  at  least  two 
officers  receive  parchment  warrants  from  the  commandant,  and  can  only 
be  reduced  by  his  authority  or  the  sentence  of  a  court-martial ;  vacancies 
occurring  at  sea  may  be  filled  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  vessel 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Marine  officer,  provided  the  candidate 
be  reported  qualified  by  a  board  of  three  officers ;  if  reduced  the  warrant 
is  returned,  but  if  honorably  discharged  it  may  be  retained  ;  upon  re-enlist 
ing  within  thirty  days  their  rank  is  continuous  ;  they  recite  tactics  from 
time  to  time,  and,  being  borne  on  a  general  Corps  roster,  have  many 
opportunities  for  promotion.  Their  chevrons,  or  distinguishing  marks 
of  rank,  are  the  same  as  in  the  army,  but  are  worn  inverted ;  the  colors 
are  orange  on  a  scarlet  ground. 

"Enlistments  are  for  a  period  of  five  years;  are  not  to  be  made  on 
foreign  stations,  nor  are  men  to  be  discharged  except  from  a  barracks; 
enlisted  men  receive  same  pay  and  bounty  for  re-enlisting  as  those  of 
like  grades  in  infantry ;  persons  enlisted  in  the  military  service  may,  on 
application,  be  transferred  by  the  President  to  the  Marine  Corps  ;  the 
band  receive  four  dollars  per  month  extra  pay,  each  man,  for  playing  on 
the  Capitol  grounds  or  the  President's  grounds;  and  all  Marines  are 
entitled  to  one  Navy  ration  daily.  Formerly  the  ration  was  prescribed 


Qualifications  of  Marines.  303 

for  each  day  in  the  week,  by  law,  with  the  liberal  addition  of  'a  half- 
pint  of  distilled  spirits  or  one  quart  of  beer  daily.'  In  old  times  Marines 
were  allowed  to  the  revenue  cutters,  and  in  the  regulations  for  the  Navy, 
enacted  in  1798,  are  referred  to  as  'Marine  soldiers.'  Enlistments 
were  then  made  for  one  year,  subject  to  extension  or  discharge  by  the 
President.  In  the  primary  legislation  great  stress  was  laid  upon  the  im 
portance  of  both  officers  and  men  being  'good  seamen,'  or  acquainted 
with  maritime  affairs.  Now,  while  it  is  desirable  that  they  should  know 
something  of  the  sea,  it  is  not  required  and  not  advisable  that  they  should 
be  'good  seamen.'  That  would  go  far  to  neutralize  their  chief  value  as 
an  element  non-assimilating  in  the  ship's  complement.  Credit  is  given 
to  both  officers  and  men  for  previous  service  in  the  volunteer  army  or 
Navy,  and,  as  re-enlistment  in  either  the  army  or  Marine  Corps  within 
thirty  days  of  honorable  discharge  entitles  to  increased  pay  for  continuous 
service,  men  are  frequently  found  in  each  who  have  served  one  or  more 
enlistments  in  the  other. 

"  Recruits  must  be  at  least  five  feet  six  inches  high,  between  eighteen 
and  thirty-five  years  of  age,  able  to  read  and  write,  of  steady  habits,  un 
married,  well  made,  sound  as  to  senses  and  limbs,  and  of  good  health. 
They  enter  voluntarily,  undergo  strict  medical  examination  by  a  naval 
surgeon,  and  are  attached  to  barracks  for  instruction  before  being  sent 
to  sea.  The  drill  on  shore  embraces  the  schools  of  the  soldier,  company, 
and  battalion,  skirmishing,  target- practice,  the  bayonet  exercise,  and  all 
military  duties  and  ceremonies.  Afloat,  this  continues  so  far  as  may  be 
practicable,  and  to  it  are  added  the  great  gun  or  artillery  drill,  and  by 
some  officers  instruction  in  swimming,  rowing,  the  signal  code,  and  the 
broadsword.  Upton's  Tactics  and  the  Ordnance  Manual  are  employed, 
the  former  since  1867.  Reports  of  drills  and  instructions  are  required  to  be 
made  monthly  ;  the  commandant  inspects  each  post  (except  Mare  Island) 
annually,  the  adjutant  does  the  same  quarterly,  and  a  captain,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  permanent  Inspection  Board,  sees  the  guards  of  all  ships 
sailing  upon  or  returning  from  a  three  years'  cruise.  Boys  over  fourteen 
are  enlisted  as  apprentices  to  learn  music, — the  drum  and  trumpet, — and 
bandmen  are  enlisted  and  classed  after  examination  at  head-quarters, 
Washington,  where  the  band  is  permanently  stationed.  The  regulations 
for  the  recruiting  service  of  the  army  apply  to  the  Marine  Corps  so  far  as 
practicable. 

"  The  arm  in  use  at  present  is  the  Springfield  (U.  S.)  rifle,  calibre  .45, 
and  the  knapsack,  haversack,  canteen,  and  rifle-sling  are  of  the  infantry 
pattern.  Belts  are  of  English  buff  leather  worn  white,  and  boxes  black. 
Clothing,  rations,  quarters,  fuel,  medicines,  and  medical  attendance  are 
furnished  by  the  government.  The  former,  now  made  by  the  quarter 
master's  department  in  Philadelphia,  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  a  careful 
soldier  can  save  out  of  his  allowance  of  clothing  from  seventy-five  dollars 


304  Appendix. 

to  one  hundred  dollars  in  five  years,  which  is  paid  to  him  in  cash  on  dis 
charge.  The  ration  is  sufficient  and  substantial.  The  uniform  (revised 
in  1876)  is  varied  and  elaborate.  The  full  dress  rather  gaudy,  but  the 
rest  neat  and  in  good  taste;  caps  and  coats  dark  blue;  trousers  and 
overcoats  sky-blue ;  trimmings  for  officers  are  scarlet  and  gold,  for  men 
scarlet  and  orange;  musicians  wear  scarlet  coats  with  white  piping  for 
full  dress ;  fur  hats  and  Artie  shoes  are  issued  for  winter,  and  white  hel 
mets  and  linen  trousers  for  summer  and  the  tropics.  The  cap-device, 
formerly  a  bugle,  has  been  since  1869  a  metal  hemisphere  on  an  anchor 
and  surmounted  by  an  eagle.  Blouses  braided  with  black  mohair  were 
adopted  for  officers  in  1870. 

"  The  discipline  is  based  upon  the  laws  and  regulations  for  the  govern 
ment  of  the  Navy,  which  apply  to  them  at  all  times,  except  when  serving 
with  the  army  (act  June  30,  1834).  The  military  spirit  is  sedulously 
cultivated,  and  severe  punishments  seldom  inflicted.  Whenever  a  man 
is  transferred,  his  character  must  accompany  him,  the  words  used  being 
'excellent,'  'good,'  or  *  bad,'  and  no  others.  This  is  entered  upon 
his  descriptive  list,  and  on  his  final  discharge.  '  Bad'  on  a  discharge 
precludes  re-enlistment.  Intemperate  and  unreliable  men  are  specially 
discharged  upon  recommendation  of  their  commanding  officers,  accom 
panied  by  their  records,  as  '  unfit  for  the  service.'  Drunkenness  and 
desertion  are  decreasing  each  year.  The  sale  of  malt  or  spirituous  liquors 
in  barracks  is  forbidden,  and  enlisted  men  are  not  allowed  to  act  as 
sutlers  or  sutlers'  agents,  nor  to  trade  with  each  other. 

"  A  Marine  detachment  serving  within  a  Navy-Yard  is  subject  to  the 
orders  of  the  commandant  of  the  yard,  but  no  part  is  to  be  relieved  or 
withdrawn  except  by  order  of  the  commandant  of  the  Marine  Corps, 
approved  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Officers  joining  such  a  detach 
ment  report  first  to  the  commandant  of  the  yard,  then  to  the  officer  com 
manding  detachment.  The  latter  is  charged  with  the  police,  internal 
government,  and  instruction  of  the  Marines ;  causes  guards  and  sentinels 
•  to  be  posted  wherever  required  by  the  commandant  of  the  yard,  and 
makes  a  daily  report  to  him  of  the  number  and  disposition  of  the  force 
under  his  command.  He  issues  every  morning,  in  writing  and  under 
seal,  the  countersign  for  the  ensuing  night ;  grants  the  customary  liberty 
to  the  enlisted  men ;  requires  the  daily  rations  and  meals  to  be  inspected 
and  made  to  comply  with  the  contract ;  reports  misconduct  on  the  part 
of  the  guards  or  sentinels  to  the  commandant  of  the  yard  ;  enlists  recruits, 
and  forwards  staff  returns  of  men  transferred  ;  sees  that  the  exercises  and 
formations  of  parades,  reviews,  inspections,  funerals,  etc.,  and  the  camp 
and  garrison  duties,  and  the  salutes,  are  the  same  as  the  army ;  requires 
a  daily  drill  of  one  hour,  and  that  officers  and  men  in  garrison  wear  the 
prescribed  uniform. 

"  Details  of  enlisted  men  for  sea-service  are  made  from  rosters  kept  at 


Duties  of  Marines.  305 

each  post,  so  that  they  may  go  in  turn,  unless  they  volunteer.  Three 
years  is  the  tour,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  they  are  relieved. 
Unless  a  ship  is  unpopular,  there  is  generally  a  surplus  of  volunteers. 
Indifferent  or  unworthy  men  are  not  permitted  to  go.  Guards  for  ships 
are  made  up  at  the  nearest  barracks,  and  march  on  board  when  the  ship 
goes  into  commission  fully  organized,  accompanied  by  their  officers 
and  ready  for  duty.  They  salute  the  flag  when  it  is  hoisted,  salute  it 
when  it  is  hauled  down  at  the  end  of  the  cruise,  and  are  the  last  to  leave 
the  ship.  They  are  entered  separately  on  the  books;  are  upon  the  same 
footing  as  seamen  with  regard  to  provisions;  are  furnished  with  certain 
articles  of  clothing  and  small  stores  by  the  paymaster  when  their  com 
manding  officer  certifies  that  they  require  them ;  when  not  on  guard  or 
on  duty  as  sentinels,  are  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  sea-officers  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  crew ;  are  not  to  be  diverted  from  their  appropriate 
duties,  nor  called  upon  to  coal  ship  or  work  as  mechanics,  except  in 
cases  of  emergency ;  are  not  to  perform  duty  above  the  rail,  unless  to  act 
as  sharp-shooters  in  the  tops ;  may  be  assigned  as  parts  of  guns'  crews  in 
divisions  other  than  their  own ;  when  sentinels,  must  receive  orders 
through  the  sergeant  or  corporal  of  the  guard. 

"  Their  particular  duties  on  board  ship  are  as  sentinels  to  watch  over  the 
magazines,  store-rooms,  gangways,  galleys,  boats  alongside,  approaching, 
or  passing,  and  all  lights  and  fires  required  for  the  use  of  the  ship,  and 
to  give  the  alarm  in  case  of  fire ;  to  preserve  order,  and  allow  no  swear 
ing,  gambling,  or  immoral  practices;  to  prevent  injury  or  theft  of  public 
or  private  property,  or  interruption  of  the  cooking  duties ;  to  allow  no 
smoking  or  washing  except  at  the  prescribed  hours ;  to  allow  no  enlisted 
man  or  boat  to  leave  the  ship  without  the  authority  of  the  officer  of  the 
deck;  to  guard  the  ordinary  prisoners  and  the  prisoners  of  war,  who 
sometimes  outnumber  the  crew ;  and  at  all  times  to  sustain  discipline  by 
their  organization,  distinctive  character,  and  peculiar  training.  In  port 
they  constitute  the  deck  guard,  to  render  honors  or  assistance,  and  at  sea 
they  are  (at  least  a  large  portion  of  them)  always  near  their  arms,  to  pre 
vent  surprise  from  without,  and  check  insubordination  from  within.  In 
action,  they  man  and  fight  a  division  of  the  spar-deck  battery,  fill 
vacancies  at  other  guns,  scour  the  enemy's  decks  from  the  tops,  the  poop, 
or  forecastle  with  their  rifles,  cover  the  boarding-parties  with  their  fire,  and 
repel  boarders  with  fixed  bayonets.  Should  the  enemy  gain  a  foothold, 
they  rally  at  the  mainmast  so  as  to  command  the  deck.  In  case  of  fire, 
they  guard  the  boats'  falls  and  officers'  quarters,  prevent  panic  or  pillage, 
compel  compliance  with  the  orders  of  the  officers,  and  allow  no  one  to 
throw  overboard  any  property  or  fittings,  or  abandon  the  ship,  until 
duly  authorized. 

"In  the  landing-parties  and  boat-expeditions  they  go  thoroughly 
equipped,  and  are  distributed  among  the  several  boats.  In  mixed  opera- 


306  Appendix. 

tions  on  shore,  such  as  the  surprise  of  a  camp  or  post,  or  the  escalade  of 
a  fort,  picked  men  are  sent  with  the  pioneers,  and  the  rest  form  the 
supporting  column,  and  in  case  of  failure,  cover  the  retreat  and  embar 
kation  of  the  sailors.  The  venerable  Senior  Flag-Officer  Stewart  said  of 
sailors,  '  They  are  a  class  whose  onset  and  first  efforts  are  tremendous 
and  formidable,  but  if  resisted  and  discomfited  they  break  into  groups, 
become  a  mere  mob,  and  without  a  body  of  regular  troops  to  sustain 
them  must  fall  a  sacrifice.'  A  frequent  duty  abroad  is  to  guard  the 
American  legations  and  consulates,  and  the  interests  of  American  citizens 
in  times  of  revolution  or  public  disorder,  and  to  protect  surveying  and 
astronomical  parties. 

"The  present  allowance  of  Marines  to  ships  varies  with  their  class  or 
rate.  The  old  rule  was  a  Marine  to  each  gun ;  but  guns  were  then 
smaller  and  much  more  numerous."  * 


PART    IV. 

LIST  OF  OFFICERS  BREVETTED  FOR  SERVICES  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

DURING  and  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  Congress  and  the  Navy 
Deparment  showed  appreciation  and  approval  of  the  conduct  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  Marine  Corps,  by  conferring  brevet  titles  on  many  of  them. 
The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  officers  so  honored,  with  a  statement 
of  the  reasons  which  led  to  their  distinction  : 

Lieutenant- Colonels  by  Brevet. — Brevet  Major  John  L.  Broome,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  second  battle  of  Vicksburg,  July 
15,  1863,  to  date  from  March  14,  1863;  Brevet  Major  Charles  Hey- 
wood,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Mobile  Bay,  to 
date  from  August  5,  1864;  Brevet  Major  James  Forney,  for  meritorious 
services  in  defeating  a  rebel  raid  at  Gunpowder  Bridge,  in  July,  1864. 

Majors  by  Brevet. — Captain  Charles  G.  McCawley,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  to  date  from 
September  8,  1863;  Captain  John  L.  Broome,  for  gallant  and  merito 
rious  services,  to  date  from  April  24,  1862  ;  Captain  P.  R.  Fendall,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the  battles  of  Hatteras  Inlet,  Port 
Royal,  Sewell's  Point,  Ocrakoke  Inlet,  Savannah  and  James  Rivers,  to 
date  from  June  7,  1870;  Captain  Charles  Heywood,  for  distinguished 
gallantry  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  March  8,  1862  ;  Captain  Lucien 
L.  Dawson,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort 

*  Captain  Cochrane  in  "  Naval  Encyclopaedia." 


Officers  Breve  tied.  307 

Fisher,  January  13,  14,  and  15,  1865  ;  Captain  George  P.  Houston,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Mobile  Bay,  to  date  from 
August  5,  1864;  Captain  James  Forney,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  ser 
vices  in  the  action  with  the  savages  at  Formosa,  June  13,  1867 ;  Captain 
George  Butler,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon 
Fort  Fisher,  January  13,  14,  and  15,  1865  ;  Captain  W.  H.  Parker,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  January 
13,  14,  and  15,  1865. 

Captains  by  Brevet. — First  Lieutenant  James  Forney,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  the  attack  on  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  April 
24,  1862  ;  First  Lieutenant  John  H.  Higbee,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services,  at  Port  Hudson  and  Grand  Gulf,  May  25,  1863;  First  Lieu 
tenant  F.  H.  Corrie,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack 
upon  Fort  Fisher,  January  13,  14,  and  15,  1865  ;  First  Lieutenant  H.  B. 
Lowry,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  September  8,  1863;  First  Lieutenant  P.  C.  Pope,  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  Septem 
ber  8,  1863  ;  First  Lieutenant  William  Wallace,  for  gallant  and  merito 
rious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  January  13,  14,  and  15, 
1865  ;  First  Lieutenant  George  G.  Stoddard,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  at  the  battle  of  Boyd's  Neck,  and  at  the  battle  of  Tulifinney  Cross- 
Roads,  to  date  from  December  6,  1864;  First  Lieutenant  Charles  F. 
Williams,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort 
Fisher,  January  13,  14,  and  15,  1865  ;  First  Lieutenant  E.  P.  Meeker, 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  Jan 
uary  13,  14,  and  15,  1865;  First  Lieutenant  L.  E.  Fagan,  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  January  13,  14, 
and  15,  1865;  First  Lieutenant  George  B.  Haycock,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  Gunpowder  Bridge,  in  July,  1864,  to  date  from 
June  7,  1870. 

First  Lieutenants  by  Brevet. — Second  Lieutenant  John  C.  Harris,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  attack  upon  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  April  24,  1862  ;  Second  Lieutenant  R.  L.  Meade,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  September  8, 
1863;  Second  Lieutenant  William  Wallace,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  September  8,  1863  ; 
Second  Lieutenant  Louis  E.  Fagan,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
at  the  night  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  September  8,  1863  ;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Charles  Sherman,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle 
of  Mobile  Bay,  August  5,  1864. 

THE     END. 


20 


Perm  CQutual 

LIFE  INSURANCE  Co 

of  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


Gross  Assets,  $15,174,078.23.  Surplus,  $2,626,190.39. 


It  has  not  a  single  disputed  death  claim  on  its  books. 

Its  investments  are  safe ;  its  management  is  conservatively  pro 
gressive — fully  abreast  of  the  times,  never  unwisely  in  advance. 

It  has  all  the  safeguards  which  experience,  intelligence,  and 
caution  suggest,  and  is  unsurpassed  in  the  guarantees  which  it 
affords. 

Its  record  is  unassailable.  Not  one  of  its  acts  ever  called  for  an 
apology  or  explanation. 

Its  policy-holders  participate  in  the  annual  distribution  of  sur 
plus  upon  the  SECOND  and  succeeding  payments,  and  its  policies 
are  non-forfeitable  after  TWO  years. 

The  Company  contracts  to  extend  the  time  of  payment  beyond 
the  date  named  in  the  policy.  This  is  not  a  matter  of  grace,  but 
of  right.  Its  extension  system  is  the  best  devised  and  most  bene 
ficial  in  its  operations. 


HOME   OFFICES, 
921,  923,  and  925  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


EDWARD    M.  NEEDLES,  President. 

HORATIO    S.  STEPHENS,  Vice-President. 

HENRY    C.  BROWN,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
JESSE  J.  BARKER,  Actuary. 

TRUSTEES : 


William  H.  Kern, 
James  O.  Pease, 
Thomas  W.  Davis, 
Joseph  M.  P.  Price, 
Charles  Watson, 
El  wood  Johnson, 
William  C.  Houston, 

Joseph  B.  Hodgson, 
Howard  Hinchman, 
William  H.  Rhawn, 
Atwood  Smith, 
John  H.  Watt, 
N.  P.  Shortridge, 
Richard  S.  Brock, 

Benjamin  Allen, 
John  Scott, 
Charles  J.  Field, 
Robert  Dornan, 
William  M.  Runk, 
R.  Allison  Miller, 
Henry  S.  Eckert, 

Noah  A.  Plympton, 
Frank  Markoe, 
Harry  P.  West, 
L.  K.  Passmore, 
Geo.  K.  Johnson,  Jr., 
Joseph  Bosler. 

F.  J.  HEIBERGER, 


CITIZENS'  AND   MILITARY 


nERGHANT"TAIL0R 


(Established  1551) 


FIFTEENTH  STREET, 


Opp.  U.  S.  T*easu*y.  OjASHH^GTOfl,  t>. C 


* 

ROBERT  A.  GRANNISS,  VICE-PRESIDENT.  RICHARD  A.  McCURDY,  PRESIDENT. 

THE  MUTUAL  LIFE 
Insurance  Company  of  New  York 

IS   THE   LARGEST,   BEST,   AND    MOST   POPULAR   LIFE 
INSURANCE   COMPANY    IN    THE   WORLD. 


Assets  January  1,   189O  -----    $136,401, 328. 02 

New  Business  in  1889        -----  151,602,4-83.37 

Annual  Income     -------  31,119,019.62 

purely  Mutual.  fto  Stockholders. 

No  other  Company  has  shown  results  so  profitable  and  gratifying  to 

Policy-Holders. 

Its  Policies  are  the  Most  Liberal  and  Desirable  Issued. 

It  has  paid  Policy- Holders  since  Organization   -   $287,681,948.20 

The  Consul  Policy  recently  announced  by  THE  MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY  OF  NEW 
YORK  combines  MORE  ADVANTAGES  with  FEWER  RESTRICTIONS  than  any  Insurance  contract  ever 
offered.  It  consolidates 

INSURANCE,     ENDOWMENT,     INVESTMENT,    ANNUAL  INCOME. 


No  other  company  offers  this  policy.     Apply  only  to  Company's  nearest  Agent  for  details. 

WILLIAM  H.  LAMBERT, 

General  Agent  for  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware, 

Mutual  Life  Building,  Philadelphia. 

ESTTSOL-ISHED     1B*79. 


E 


United  *  Sem/iee, 

A  MONTHLY  REVIEW  OF 

MILITARY    AND     NAVAL    AFFAIRS, 


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published.  Specimen  copies  will  be  sent  on  receipt  of  five  2-cent 
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Price,  35  Cents.  $4,00  Per  Annum. 


PUBLISHED    BY 

L.  R.   HAMERSLY   &   CO., 

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THE   WORKS 


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top,  $7.50 ;  half  morocco,  polished,  gilt  top,  $7.50. 

FOLK-LORE   AND   LEGENDS. 

New  Set  Just  Ready.  Four  volumes  that  present  in  handy  form  selections  from  the  Folk-Lore  and 
Legends  of  England,  Scandinavia,  Russia,  and  North  America.  Four  volumes.  i6mo.  Neatly 
bound.  Half  cloth,  gilt  top,  $3.00;  half  polished  calf,  gilt  top,  $7  50;  half  polished  morocco,  gilt 
toP,  $7-5<>- 

FOLK-LORE   AND   LEGENDS. 

Selections  from  the  Folk-Lore  and  Legends  of  Scotland,  Germany,  Ireland,  and  the  East.  Four 
volumes.  i6mo.  Half  cloth,  gilt  top,  $3.00;  half  polished  calf,  gilt  top,  $7.50;  half  polished 
morocco,  gilt  top,  $7  50. 

TREASURE-HOUSE   OF  TALES. 

Being  a  Selection  of  the  Uncollected  Writings  of  LEIGH  HUNT,  LORD  BEACONSFIELD,  MARY 
SHELLEY,  and  DOUGLAS  JEKKOLD.  Four  volumes.  i2mo.  Cloth,  gilt  top,  $6.00;  three-quarters 
calf  or  morocco,  gilt  top,  $13.00. 


For  sale  by  all  Booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by  the  Publishers,  free  of  expense,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

J.  B.  UPPINCOXX  COMPANY, 

715  and  717  Market  Street,  Philadelphia. 

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